There Is No Place Like Home

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Submitted August 17, 2012

Source: Photos.com

A father divides his livelihood with his two sons—one remained with his father to serve, obey and work for him, while the other moved away to live a sinful life and wasted all of the possessions he was given.

The prodigal son’s rebellious living caught up to him in consequence and time, and when he came to his senses he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.'”

So he repented and began his journey to return home to his father. When his father saw him in the distance, his loving heart filled with compassion and he ran to him with open arms. He responded to his son’s confession and plea for forgiveness with a calling to his servants to “bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

But when his other son heard the news, he spouted to his father: “I have been serving you [for many years]; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came (not even calling him brother), who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.” He let his heart fill with anger and envy over what he perceived as mistreatment from his father.

Nonetheless, this loving father knew exactly what to say to this prideful heart. He replied, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found” (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.

See All...).

I imagine his son heard his father’s voice, and that their family came together in the God’s perfect bond of love. This story is a reminder to me, that we are all God’s children and servants. We must forgive one another as we have so mercifully been forgiven of our sins, and always return back to the Father no matter how bad we’ve sinned. We must share the joy of being in a loving relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ to our brothers and sisters, and remain thankful to be a part of the family and workmanship of God.

Lamentations 3:22-23 [22] It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
[23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

See All... says, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is [His] faithfulness.”