T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S and done th is evil in th y sigh t.” How we rejoice in his decision to go back and throw him self a t his fath e r’s feet and tru s t him self to his fa th e r’s kindly heart. (5) SEEING THE FATHER and SEA SON OF REJOICING, vs. 20-24. “His fath e r saw him .” The fath e r sees him first. He was looking for him and saw him when he was a fa r off. Our F a th e r sees us if we are in th e “ far country” and waits for us to retu rn . The fath e r ran to meet him. He never got far w ith his confession, for the fath e r hugged and kissed him and ordered a t once th e program for a feast. The fath e r’s h e a rt is full. “B ring th e ring and th e robe and th e shoes. He needs everything. He shall have everything.” “My God shall supply your every need.” Nothing is to be left to rem ind him of th e swine pen. No badge of servitude is to be given him. He is a son and shall have a son’s place. The kiss as sures of forgiveness. The robe is the testimony of fu ll restoration. The fath e r sees him as righteous. The ring, is th e w itness to th e bond of union which can never be broken, and of au tho rity in th e fa th e r’s house. The shoes testify to his standing in the house. Slaves wear no shoes. The slain calf is a token of fellowship. His seat is one of honor a t th e fath e r’s rig h t hand. “Eat, drink and be merry, the backslider has retu rn ed .” (Eph. 2:1-5) QUESTIONS (1) W hat is th e inheritance of every Christian? (Eph. 1:1-14; 1 Pet. 1:4) (2 ) By w hat process is th e inheri tance obtained? (John 1:12)
56 He began by being his own m aster and ended by being a slave to a swine owner and envying even th e swine (Eph. 2:3, 4, 17, 19) «Among; w h om a ls o w e a ll b a d o u r co n v e rs a tio n in tim e s p a s t in th e lu s ts o f o u r flesh, fu lfillin g th e d e s ire s o f th e flesh a n d o f th e m in d ; a n d w e re b y n a tu r e th e c h ild re n o f w r a th , ev en a s o th e rs. B u t God, w h o is ric h in m e rc y , fo r h is g r e a t lo v e w h e re w ith h e lo v ed u s, * * * C am e a n d p re a c h e d p e ace to y o u w h ic h w e re a f a r o if, a n d to th e m t h a t w e re n ig h . * * * N ow , th e re fo re , y e a r e n o m o re s tr a n g e r s a n d fo re ig n e rs , b u t fe llo w c itiz e n s w ith th e s a in ts , a n d o f th e h o u se h o ld o f God.” (4) SORROW OP SIN, vs. 17-19. “And when he came to him seli.” He had been “out of him self” . So every backslider, sometime, must come to himself. He m ust see him self and see how reckless, selfish, foolish and godless he has been. Reason must re sume Its sway. He must see something of th e wreck and ru in he has w rought. . He had been so absorbed w ith his own sinful pleasures th a t he had been unconscious of the downward d rift of his life. He had been asleep. Now he is awake. He h ad been dead to his fath er. Now he is alive. He has had a rude awakening. The contrasts are before him,— th e swine, th e pens, th e filth, his unsatisfied desire for food and fellowship; then, th e fath e r’s house, the friends, the comforts, th e happy home, comes up before him. He is heart-sick. He is convicted and convinced. He sum mons his will and says, “ I w ill arise and go to my fath e r.” (Jer. 2:19 ) “T h in e ow n w ic k e d n e ss s h a ll c o rre c t th e e , a n d th y b a c k s lid in g s h a ll re p ro v e th e e .” This is th e story of a backslider. He is determ ined to go back home. He knows all about th a t home and says, “ I am no more w orthy to be called a son.” No one is a son of God who has no t been born again, and th a t'b ir th can only be th rough faith in th e shed blood of Jesus Christ. H ear his confession: “ I have sinned against heaven and before thee.” It sounds like K ing David (Psa. 6 1 :4 ). “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned,
(3) W hat assurance has th e Chris tia n th a t he can never lose his title? (1 John 3:1-3) (4) Do men who are really Chris tian s backslide? (L uk e 22:54-61) SAFE INVESTMENTS—UNQUESTIONED
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker