CHANGING ONE’S DIRECTION IN LIFE
Luke 15:11-24
Building a relationship with God begins with the acceptance of the fact that our sinfulness destroyed that relationship with Him. Man’s sinfulness is the barrier that keeps us from having a personal and fulfilled relationship with God. Therefore one’s sinfulness must be dealt with utmost humility on the part of man and forgiveness and grace on the part of God. Man should acknowledge his sins, repent, and seek God’s cleansing through forgiveness.
Today, we are going to look at the second step toward building a relationship with God, which is “Changing One’s Direction in Life.” Our text is found in Luke 15:11-24 and as we read this, I want you to find the answers to the following questions: What is repentance? Why do we need to repent? How can we show genuine repentance? How does God respond to a genuine repentant person? (Read the text.)
EXPOSITION
The parable of the prodigal son illustrates to us the graciousness and love of God to the rebellious, proud, and selfish person. It shows us how God is so open to any returning and repentant person.
1. What does repent mean?
• To “repent” means “to change one’s mind.” Furthermore, it is a change of one’s mind that leads to a change of behavior.
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ’We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" "Don’t collect any more than you are required to," he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely-- be content with your pay." (Luke 3:8-14)
• Spiritually speaking, repentance is to change one’s behavior from wrongdoing to righteousness. The younger sons showed repentance by going back to His Father. So when we say we are repenting, we are actually changing one’s direction in life. If we use to live a life of vices, immorality, rebellion, and skepticism, in repentance we turn around and start a new direction in life, normally, to God.
2. Why do we need to repent?
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ’Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. (Luke 15:11-16)
• Our passage says that the younger son asked for his inheritance. Normally, the younger son receives 1/3 and the oldest receives 2/3 of the inheritance. It was perfectly legal for the younger son to ask for his share of the estate and even to sell it, but it was certainly not a very loving thing on his part. It was as though he were saying to his father, “I wish you were dead!”
• Why did he ask? The younger son dreamed of “enjoying” his freedom far from home and away from his father and older brother. He wanted to have his own way so he rebelled against his own father and broke his father’s heart. He initiated a breakdown of the solidarity of the family but discovered that life in the far country was not what he expected. His resources ran out, his friends left him, a famine came, and the boy was forced to do for a stranger what he would not do for his own father—go to work! In short, he suffered the consequences of his wrong decision and rebellion.
• A lot of people today are suffering the consequences of their wrong choices in life. We are always heading for trouble whenever we value things more than people, pleasure more than duty, and distant scenes more than the blessings we have right at home. Our texts show God’s way of emphasizing what sin really does in the lives of those who reject the Father’s will.
• Sin promises freedom, but it only brings slavery (John 8:34); it promises success, but brings failure; it promises life, but “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). The boy thought he would “find himself,” but he only lost himself! When God is left out of our lives, enjoyment becomes enslavement. As a result, the younger son decided to go back and seek the Father’s forgiveness.
3. How can we show genuine repentance?
a. Personal Evaluation
"When he came to his senses, he said, ’How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! (Luke 15:17)
• The phrase “when he came to his senses” implies that the younger son while suffering from his wrong decision in life realize how unfair and insensitive he was in his dealing with his Father. His painful circumstances helped him to see his father in a new way and that his father did not deserve all the pain and rejection that he inflicted. Thus he realized that he deserves all his humility and repentance.
• Similarly, genuine repentance begins with personal evaluation of our actions. We need to able to look back and see what we have done especially if there are people involved in our wrong actions. We need to see how much damage we have inflicted on those people who care for us; how they were affected by our wrong choices so that we can understand why if ever they have reacted in a negative way in return.
• In terms of building a relationship with God, we need to realize why repentant is necessary. We need to understand that we have offended the Creator of heaven and earth and have disgrace his holiness and glory. Unless we acknowledge that living a sinful life is an offense to God’s character, we will never take seriously the issue of repentance.
b. Personal Decision
I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ (Luke 15:18-19)
• After seeing the gravity of his sins, he decided to go back and ask for forgiveness. Perhaps after evaluation, he was confronted with the reality of his scenario and asked himself, “Should I remain in this condition or should I do something to change my situation?” Obviously, he chose to change the scenario of his life and decided to go back.
• I believe that after seeing the consequences of our actions, a truly repentant person chooses to do something to change or correct his actions. A repentant person is proactive in dealing with his situation. We need to decide whether we will continue to live a life of separation from God or we will repent and be closer to Him. Our eternal destiny is partly decided by us.
c. Personal Action
So he got up and went to his father… (Luke 15:20)
• The younger son did not only say that “I will set out and go back to my father…” but acted on his resolution or decision. I believe he knew that personal resolution without any action is useless.
• Our resolutions may be noble, but unless we act on them, they can never of themselves bring about any permanent good. A truly repentant person will not only admit his sins and believes that he must repent but truly demonstrate a repentant life. It is one thing to say I am sorry and repenting, it is another to demonstrate it by our way of life. When you say to God, “I am going back” make sure that you will because He is waiting.
d. Personal Confession
"The son said to him, ’Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’(Luke 15:21)
• When the son arrived, he immediately confessed his sin and willing to accept the consequence of it. He did not justify his actions nor made some excuses but simply acknowledge that he sinned against him and heaven. The young man changed his mind about himself and his situation, and he admitted that he was a sinner. He confessed that his father was a generous man and that service at home was far better than “freedom” in the far country.
• In building a relationship with God, it is important that we are ready to humble ourselves and confess that we are sinners. No excuses, no justification.
4. How does God respond to a genuine repentant person?
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him….(v. 20)
"But the father said to his servants, ’Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:22-24)
a. Anticipation
• Because his father saw him "while he was still a long way off" (v. 20) has led many to assume that the father was waiting for him, perhaps daily searching the distant road hoping for his appearance.
• 2 Peter 3:9
b. Compassion
• The father was filled with compassion because of the son’s pitiable condition. The father pictures to us the attitude of our Heavenly Father toward sinners who repent: He is rich in His mercy and grace, and great in His love toward them. All of this is possible because of the sacrifice of His Son on the cross
• Some have pointed out that a father in that culture would not normally run as he did, yet the father ran to meet his son. Why? One obvious reason was his love for him and his desire to show that love. But there is something else involved. This wayward son had brought disgrace to his family and village and, according to Deuteronomy 21:18-21, he should have been stoned to death. If the neighbors had started to stone him, they would have hit the father who was embracing him! In other words, he ran to him so he can protect his son from possible danger. What a picture of what Jesus did for us on the cross!
c. Restoration
• After the son confessed his sins, the father was supposed to say in response but he did not. Instead he instructed his servants to bring the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and a sandal on his feet. The robe was proof of his acceptance back into the family, the ring signified authority, and the sandals were those only a free man would wear. Servants did not wear rings, shoes, or expensive garments.
d. Celebration
• The feast was the father’s way of showing his joy and sharing it with others. Had the boy been dealt with according to the Law, there would have been a funeral, not a feast. What a beautiful illustration of Psalm 103:10-14! The father never did permit the younger son to finish his confession; he interrupted him, forgave him, and ordered the celebration to begin!
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7)
