INTRODUCTION: EVERY NOW AND THEN, FOR REASONS KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, ALL OF US HAVE A NEED TO BE INDEPENDENT. JUST BECAUSE WE DO NOT SEE EYE TO EYE ON SOME THINGS, OR WE DON’T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THIS OR THAT; WE VENTURE OUT, LOOKING FOR GREENER PASTURES, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE GRASS IS NOT AS GREEN AS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. A MAN WILL LEAVE HIS WIFE FOR A WOMAN THAT HE IS BETTER OFF WITHOUT. A WOMAN WILL LEAVE HER HUSBAND FOR ANOTHER MAN BECAUSE THINGS ARE NOT GOING HER WAY. CHILDREN WILL LEAVE HOME IN AN EFFORT TO BE LIKE THEIR PEERS, BUT I MUST REMIND YOU TODAY, ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD. THE GRASS MAY LOOK GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE, BUT THE TASTE IS OFTEN BITTER. I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT SOME OF THE BEST BLESSINGS IN LIFE ARE AT HOME.
I. THE TEXT.
THE YOUNGER OF THE TWO SONS WENT TO HIS FATHER DEMANDING HIS SHARE OF THE FATHERS GOODS, THEN PACKED HIS BAGS AND MOVED TO THE FAR COUNTRY. THE TEXT DOES NOT SAY WHY HE WANTED TO LEAVE HOME, HE JUST WANTED TO LEAVE. MANY OF OUR YOUNG LADIES ARE LEAVING HOME BECAUSE THEY FEEL AS IF THERE IS NO LOVE THERE. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY BEGIN TO LOOK FOR LOVE IN ALL OF THE WRONG PLACES, FINDING THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION THEY DID NOT BARGIN FOR. YOUNG MEN WILL LEAVE HOME TO BECOME THEIR OWN MAN, BUT MANHOOD REQUIRES RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS YOUNGMAN ARRIVED IN THE FAR COUNTRY AND BEGAN TO LIVE FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY FREE. HE BEGAN WASTING HIS MONEY ON WILD PARTIES. NIGHT AFTER NIGHT, HE WASTED HIMSELF AND HIS RESOURCES. NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY. WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF FAST CARS, FINE WOMEN, AND THE GLITTER OF THE SEEMINGLY ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.
NOTICE THAT WHEN HIS MONEY WAS GONE, SO WERE HIS FRIENDS. AS LONG AS HE WAS PLEASING THE CROWD, HE WAS THE BIG MAN. BUT AS SOON AS HE HAD NOTHING TO OFFER HIS SO CALLED FRIENDS, THEY HAD NOTHING TO OFFER HIM IN RETURN. HE WAS DEJECTED AND DISCARDED LIKE YESTERDAY’S NEWS PAPER. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE LIVING ON THE JAGGED EDGE OF DESTRUCTION LIKE THE YOUNGMAN OF OUR TEXT. THE GRASS LOOKED GREENER, BUT HE IS FINDING OUT HOW BITTER THE TASTE CAN BE.
HE LOOKED FOR LOVE, BUT LOVE WAS AT HOME. HE LOOKED FOR UNDERSTANDING, BUT IT WAS AT HOME. HE LOOKED FOR COMFORT, BUT HE LEFT IT AT HOME. HE LOOKED FOR COMPANIONSHIP, BUT HE LEFT IT AT HOME.
HERE IS A YOUNG MAN THAT HAD EVERYTHING HE EVER WANTED AT HOME, NOW FEEDING PIGS FOR A LIVING. HE BECAME SO HUNGRY THAT HE DESIRED TO EAT THE FOOD OF THE PIGS. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE SHOULD NEVER TAKE FAMILY AND HOME FOR GRANTED.
THE GOOD NEWS OF THIS NARRATIVE IS THAT GOD IS A GOD OF ANOTHER CHANCE. WE FIND THAT THE YOUNG MAN CAME TO HIMSELF, REALIZING THAT HIS FATHER HAD ENOUGH FOOD TO SPARE. HIS FATHER HAD ENOUGH LOVE TO SPARE. HIS FATHER HAD ENOUGH GRACE TO SPARE, AND MAKES PREPARATIONS TO GO BACK HOME. GOD HAS ALL WE NEED WRAPPED UP WITHIN HIMSELF.
NOTICE THAT AS THIS YOUNG MAN GETS CLOSER TO HOME, THAT HIS FATHER RUSHES TO MEET HIM, KISSING HIM, HUGGING HIM, AND LOVING HIM. WHENEVER A WAYWARD CHILD OF GOD RETURNS HOME, HEAVEN IS HAPPY. THE FATHER DID NOT QUESTION HIM, JUST KISSED HIM. THE FATHER DID NOT SCOLD HIM, BUTSWEETLY EMBRACED HIM. THE FATHER DID NOT RIDICULE HIM, BUT RECEIVED HIM. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THAT’S JUST WHAT GOD DOES TO US. WE NEVER FALL FAR ENOUGH FROM THE RESTORATION POWER OF GOD.
THE GOD THAT WE SERVE IS A GOD OF FORGIVENESS AND UNDERSTANDING. HE IS A GOD OF PATIENCE AND LONG SUFFERING. HE IS A GOD OF MERCY AND COMPASSION. IF YOU ARE HERE TODAY, AND YOU HAVE FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE, THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU. THERE IS RESTORATION FOR YOU. THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
