Let Us Not Forget

Let Us Not Forget

Luke 15:11-24

* The story of the “Prodigal Son” has reached legendary status. Almost every person (believer or unbeliever) can give a general storyline. Let’s see if we can simplify it. A man had two sons. The older one was a hard working boy who understood and accepted responsibility and duty. Without any converse word, he gave all he had to the home place. The younger son, on the other hand, was the dreamer. He always felt like the grass was greener somewhere else. Although both boys enjoyed a comfortable life, the older one was settled and the younger was restless. Finally, restlessness got the best of him & he made a disrespectful request of his father for HIS share of the inheritance. Basically, he said, “I am unwilling to wait for you to die, so give me what’s mine NOW.” This younger son wanted his freedom. He wanted to be free from dad’s rules, dad’s chores, and dad’s expectations. He wanted to live a life that was free from the things of his past so that he could make his own life that would be loose, lax, and laid-back. His was to be a life of “no-worries”! It’s kind of like those animals from Lion King singing “Hakuna Matata” (no worries for the rest of your days). Sounds good, doesn’t it. But reality, like it always does, caught up with the young boy like it does for any person, state, or government who tries to live this way.

* It was 232 years ago that this nation formally declared her independence from Great Britain. Although modern day revisionist will have us believe otherwise, our nation’s fathers and the ensuing leaders possessed a deep faith in Almighty God and the necessity of His guiding hand to establish and guide this nation. The end of the Declaration of Independence reads, “With a firm reliance on divine protection, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” John Q. Adams wrote that our country was “Born in a Day with our society founded in the laws of nature and nature’s God.”

* Today our leaders are often under fire if they use Christian language in their public speaking. Now understand, it seems to use other religious or even irreligious language is okay, but to blatantly use language of the Bible, Jesus, and of Christian conviction brings about swift and sharp criticism. Separation of Church and state is the “stated reason” for this criticism. Yet in light of unrevised history, it would seem that our founding fathers were determined to keep the government out of the church while at the same time they had little desire to keep the church out of the government.

* In short, any honest review of past presidents (I.E. Washington, Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Harrison, McKinnley, Roosevelt, Truman, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Clinton, and Bush would reveal all to sprinkled their speeches with God’s word as their baseline of belief. It is upon this belief that thousands have staked and given their lives for this nation. Let us not, no ever forget!

* What we are going to do is to take a look at the prodigal son and see if we can draw any parallels from him to us and this nation.

1. The Life of the Prodigal – Anyone who has been raised in a “family-style” environment can get a sense of this life. Dad was the patriarch who gave out the assignments on the farm and he expected those chores to be completed. The family’s members oversaw and worked with the servants to make sure all the daily tasks were accomplished. In this society, this was a very good life. Because of the history and management of the family’s assets, the boys simply had to maintain the place and make sure nothing detrimental intruded and damaged the family’s interest.

* Think about this in parallel to our nation. You and I, as citizens, have little to do except maintain and protect what our forefathers have given us to handle. Our generation has not been “called on” to secure our freedom but manage and protect it. This trust has been given to us by prior generations. Yes, we have men and women (America’s finest) on the field of battle defending freedom, while back on our homeland we are to stand, work, and preserve for which they are risking their lives. First Corinthians 4:2 says, “It is expected of managers that each one is found faithful.” This is exactly what the father expected of his son, it is exactly what the fathers of this nation expect of citizens, and it is exactly what God the Father expects of us! And all of us are given the freedom to do complete this task. Freedom. Think about that word. What does it mean? Let’s examine this thought in light of our story and our society.