01/01/21 THREE OTHER PRODIGALS

01/01/21 THREE OTHER PRODIGALS

I am not going to develop this thought, but let me mention it.

THE OTHER THREE PRODIGALS.

I am not adding to the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son.

But I was thinking that in our present world there seems to be an untold story that relates to the truths of Christ's parable.

The Biblical account of the Parable of the Prodigal (Wasteful, Profligate, Extravagant, Squandering) Son is found in Luke 15:11-32. It is the teaching of Jesus and is the inspired word of God, emphasizing the love and redemptive relationship of the Father, who waits and welcomes the wandering son back home.

I do not purport infallibility or Divine inspiration. However, my observations in life have shown that not all prodigals come home. In this post I want to mention the choices of three other "prodigals."
1- The Trough Bound Prodigal and
2- The King of the Pigs Prodigal,
3- The Prodigal with the Stolen Identity.

1- The Trough Bound Prodigal has wandered from home and family. Whether he found worldly success or failure doesn't matter because all of those who exchange their relationship with the Heavenly Father end up in the same filth and spiritual squalor. Not only do they find themselves wallowing in the filth and waste of a worldly mindset, they lose their sense of reality. They no longer smell the putrid, obnoxious swill and waller of worldliness and sin. Though it is repulsive to fight the pigs for daily sustenance, they relish the morsels of garbage as if it is a fine and luxurious meal. They don't believe the "fairy tale" that there is a loving father, with welcoming arms, offering peace, pleasantness, comfort, love and eternal wealth.

Or, they believe that there is forgiveness and acceptance, but they would rather be captain over their own sinking garbage skow than be rescued by Christ and lifted into God's FellowShip of the love, peace and joy. Some of the Trough Bound Prodigals have actually lost their tolerance for the holy and prefer the smell of corruption.

2- The King of the Pigs Prodigal. This wastrel son not only finds acceptance among the swine, he sees himself as the leader of the blind. The King of the pigs finds it self exalting to be a leader of pigs. He would rather be king of the pigs than a Child of the King. He would rather slop with hogs than feast at the King's table.

3- The Prodigal with the Stolen Identity is the unrepentant Prodigal, who puts on the outer appearance of a repentant child who has returned home, but his heart is still living in the hog pen of this world.

It is almost impossible to reach the Trough Fed and the King of the Prodigals or the Hypocrite Prodigal. They have not only chosen the counsel of the ungodly, and walked in the way of sinners, they have gladly sat in the seat of the scornful.

Don't be like the Trough Fed Prodigal or the King of the Pigs Prodigal or the Hypocrite Prodigal.
Look honestly at your lost condition, your deplorable state.
Remember you are loved by your Creator and He wants you to come into a right relationship with Him.
Decide to come to Him in humility.
You will see that He is waiting for you, longing for you to trust Him, repent (turn from your sins), come to Him in humility.
He will receive you and restore you to a right relationship.

Luke 15:11-32
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.