I Will Arise!

The beauty of the moment is verse 18, when his epiphany invokes the response, “I shall arise and go to my father.” This profound statement signifies a change of mind and a change in direction for his heart and soul. He knows to whom he should return: his father.

The Greek verb, “arise” is the same word used in regards to the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus “arose” from the dead and here the prodigal son will arise from the choices he made that were leading him towards eternal death apart from his father.

God is offering us resurrection! The father’s joy is for us to “arise” from whatever situation we are and return from afar to his loving embrace.

This parable is for all of us today! It is a bidding call from our heavenly father to let us know that we can return to him from any situation no matter what it may be. We can never get too far away in this earthly life that would be considered “past the point of no return.”

The time is now to return! There is not one scenario that we could imagine that could ever prevent the full restoration of your relationship with God.

The fact remains: His desire is for you to return home to him! He wants to have a loving, personal, and intimate relationship with you. He sent his son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for all our sins, just to make that possible.

If you are genuinely sorry for what you have done and will confess your sins to the father, he will forgive and restore you with no questions asked.

This is the beauty of verse 20, “…but when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.”

The Father seeks after us! No matter how far away we have gotten! We can depend upon his mercy and grace to renew and restore our relationship with him. Anything in our life can be fully restored if we will, as did the prodigal “Arise” and return.