By: Juliet Constantine

When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, “At home, even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.’” (Luke 15:17-19)

He had it all! Life was good. Yet he was so restless. He wondered what life was like on the other side of town – a place he had never been. He had never been to the movies, never entered the doors of a night club, and never partied until day light. He had never dressed in ‘bling’ clothing, nor had he ever had a drink. He was sure all the fun was on the other side of town. Yet, here he was-- living like ‘old people’. No fun, just the same everyday stuff!

“Give me my inheritance now so that I can go and enjoy life,” he demanded.

His freedom brought him “fun” – for a time. He lived extravagantly. While his money lasted, he thought the fun would never end. But soon, he hit rock-bottom. His inheritance was all spent. He was broke! In the midst of a famine, with no money, no friends, no food, and no home: desperation set in! He found work feeding pigs. Yet, the meager ration from his master’s table wasn’t enough to stop his hunger pains. To survive, he stole the pigs’ food. From palace to pig pen, from having hired help to feeding pigs, from having plenty to having nothing, from eating at his father’s table to eating from the pigs’ trough: this wasn’t the life he envisioned!

“I must go home, even to be a servant,” he decided, “I will apologize for my inconsiderate behavior. Life at home is better.”

Life is filled with mirages: you will only be deceived if there’s a need. For young people and some older ones too, life outside of the church seems like much more fun. The grass always looks greener on the other side. We stray from the principles laid down by God and established in our childhood. We find ourselves in a far country – far away from the critics in church, far away from the eyes of familiar surroundings, and far away from God. In pursuit of ‘mirages’ in life, most times, poor decisions were made that are so irreversible and cannot be fixed by forgiveness. Yet, like the prodigal boy, you can still come home!

Don’t watch the critics who believe that you do not deserve to be home. Don’t worry about what they will think or say about your leaving and returning. What they will think or say isn’t important. In every dispensation, there will be people who will seek to prevent you from returning home. Push past them and come on home. Just as the father waited to welcome his son home, in the same way Jesus and His angels will rejoice at your return. That’s all that matters.

Come home from your far country. Come home from your pig pen lifestyle. Come from eating husks to eating a real meal. Come home bending over pigs’ trough to sit at the welcoming table. Come on home.

Oh my Father, thank You for never giving up on us, even though we strayed. Thank You for embracing us on our return and reassuring us that You are happy to have us home. Please help that man, that woman to come back home. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)