In the last post we talked about what the prodigal son left behind, what he left at home. He left the presence of a loving father, the provisions and livelihood of his father and also the protection that came from living with his father. When we as the children of God, decide to leave, we are also leaving these things behind.
When the prodigal son left and went to the far country, he had everything. He got to the far country and we see what happened to his life.
“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. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 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! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.” Luke 15:13-19 KJV
The prodigal son went from having the best to having nothing at all. He found out that life outside the walls, life away from home, wasn’t all it was cracked up to be!
3 Lessons from the Pigpen
- He LOST everything he had – The verses above use the the terms ‘wasted’ and ‘spent all he had.’ This signifies that he had nothing left after a while. He had no money, no friends, no dignity. When you leave the castle, you will end up with nothing. Yes, you may have a lot of things but you lost the treasure that you could have had from the Father. You lost the time that could have been spent serving the Father. You wasted the talent that the Father gave you on something earthly instead of eternal. You lost. The world wants you to think that you won, that you gained everything when you left home, when you left the Father, but all it gave you was emptiness of life.
- He was LONELY – Once you lose your money and your things, you lose your so-called friends. The prodigal son came to his senses one day while sitting in that pigpen and he realized that even his father’s servants were better off than he was. When you leave the father’s house, you will realize that it is lonely out in the world. No one loves you. No one cares for you. No one wants the best for you. Everyone is out for themselves, they are the only person they care about!
- He was a LONG way from home – The verse says he went to a far country, he was physically far from home when he came to his senses. No matter how far away you go from God, it is a long way back with extra baggage. Yes, God will forgive you but it takes time for others to forgive and even to forgive yourself.
To make it simple, stay home, stay in the will of God! The world has absolutely nothing to offer except emptiness!
Counted Faithful 