The most frustrating
of people are those who have been born again but turned away from the Lord and
dismissed His fellowship. We have the
impulse to feel sorry for them; to compassionately coddle them but the Lord isn't
in such misguided nurturing. They must
be allowed to go off to the far country, to squander the riches of heaven on
"prostitutes" (any substitute for living in close communion with
Christ) and wallow in the muck of pigs.
It is only when they reach the end of their rope that they can get a
handle on the lunacy of their ways. But
if we try to keep them away from the far country, we usurp the wisdom of the
Father who let His son go and did not go off chasing him down the road. There is much to lose for the prodigal and
many may be hurt by his corrupted decisions but it is no use trying to change
his mind once he has taken the inheritance and left. Husbands and wives have shed countless tears
over their prodigal spouses, fathers and mothers have sat in a dejected stupor
over their prodigal children but it is hopeless trying to herd them back into
the pen. They are gone and the facts
must be faced courageously. So what
should be done? As the father in Jesus'
parable waited for his son, so we too must wait for the return of the
prodigal. It is the prodigal's decision
alone that must rule and if he chooses to come back, then we throw a party and
rejoice. If he does not, we must accept
it and let him have his way as God works the circumstances in his life to pinch
him in tightly enough until he is able to face himself squarely. Our praying does something; it unleashes the
full resources of heaven on our behalf as we mourn the departure of the
prodigal. We cannot expect the Lord
though to "make him return."
The prodigal is not some trained rat; he is fully human and free to
decide for himself whom he shall follow.
When your own prodigal walks away, mourn as terribly as the pacing
father in the Lord's story but do not extend him a lifeline. He must make his way back himself, repent
because he chooses to repent and seek out the Father because that is what he
has decided to do.
When he came to his senses, he said…"Father I
have sinned against heaven and against you…" Luke 15: 17, 21 NIV
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