[286]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN
This is a most serious poem, that of a penitent Christian who sinned before the Lord and really let the flag down. Sin is so evil and so deceptive it can catch anyone out, even sincere Christians. Just recently I have written about the matter of Christians sinning in a three-part message called, “A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED - IS SALVATION SOMETHING TO BE LOST BECAUSE OF SIN? ” It is on Sermon Central. https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/a-problem-that-happened-is-salvation-something-to-be-lost-because-of-sin-part-1-of-3-ron-ferguson-sermon-on-salvation-298582
What were the thoughts and feelings when the prodigal son of the parable returned to his father? Was there shame, regret, a feeling of unworthiness, a sense of failure, feelings of rejection, of utter humility?
For that matter what were David’s feelings in Psalm 51? I think he might have had similar thoughts and emotions.
Our God is so gracious. Picture us as carriages on a railway line. Something comes loose and we run off the rails. What does the owner do? He could leave us there skewed by the rail track, or he comes along and lifts us back on the rails and sets us right again.
That second option is what the precious Lord does. He sets us right again. Of course the machinery for that is conviction, confession, repentance and restoration. That will always be the means by which a fallen Christian is restored.
In this poem I have set out the whole situation of a Christian fallen into serious sin. He is not cast off by God, but like sinful Israel is wooed back again to repentance. {{Hosea 2:14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness, and speak kindly to her.”}}
Here is a glorious promise to the saints – those whom God loves and has been gracious to them in salvation – {{Exodus 33:19 He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you and I WILL BE GRACIOUS TO WHOM I WILL BE GRACIOUS, AND WILL SHOW COMPASSION ON WHOM I WILL SHOW COMPASSION,”}}
The Lord was gracious to us when He saved us and brought us into His family. We became sons and daughters of the living God. When we sin we bring disgrace on our family of God but we are not cast away. The very same God who was gracious to save us, is also the One who says this – {{Exodus 34:6-7 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, COMPASSIONATE AND GRACIOUS, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth, who keeps loving kindness for thousands, WHO FORGIVES INIQUITY, TRANSGRESSION AND SIN; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”}}
My desire is for this poem to be very meaningful to any who have fallen by the way. The precious Lord does receive us back again and forgives all our iniquity. I do not believe the Lord leaves His true believer in sin. He is so gracious. Amen.
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THE PRODIGAL’S RETURN
I want to know what is God’s will,
My heart at rest, my strivings still.
My own self will to fall away
With God’s true glory on display.
I want to serve Him joyfully,
Surrendered to Him faithfully.
I want to see His will is done,
And in my life His vict’ry won.
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I’ve failed the Lord and gone astray
On bypath tracks where failures lay.
I’ve known those times of deep regret;
The sinful ways - I’ve paid their debt.
The word of God and prayer as well,
On them, confess, I did not dwell.
So, like a ship with anchor raised,
I drifted aimlessly and dazed.
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Just like the prodigal of old -
The story that Christ Jesus told,
The Holy Ghost convicted me -
My sin and failing made me see,
And drew me back into His way.
Now at God’s home content to stay,
To Christ my life to dedicate,
And on His love to meditate.
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The Spirit’s work - I’m purified.
Now through His life I’m satisfied,
While living in my Father’s love.
My earthly thoughts are screened above.
Help me to know Your will, O Lord,
To serve my God who did afford
All heaven’s best to save my soul,
To cleanse my sin and make me whole.
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20 - 21 February 2006 Ronald Ferguson A-A-B-B-C-C-D-D 8 throughout