Jump Start # 876

Luke 15:13 “Not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.”

This week we are taking a closer look at the parable of the Prodigal son. That phrase, “prodigal son,” is not actually used in this text but the concept certainly is. It carries the idea of reckless and irresponsible living without any thought about the consequences or the future. It is commonly used of someone who has failed and came back to what is right.

Our passage today tells us many things. The prodigal had already demanded his share of his father’s estate. The father gave the prodigal his share. With money in his pocket he now has a means to fulfill all of his dreams. So much good could have been accomplished. He could have bought some property, started a business, invested it. It must have taken his father a life time to earn the estate. Instead, as our passage states it, “he squandered his estate with loose living.”

Long before the prodigal ever took that first step out of the house, the call of the far country appealed to him. The far country was much more than a country boy going to the big city. It was more than moving away from where you were born. For the younger son, it represented freedom. Away from dad and his rules. No more anyone telling me anything. It was an opportunity to do wrong, which he wasn’t allowed to at home. It was an opportunity to become vulgar, obscene and immoral. It appears as fun, but is actually nothing more than sin.

There is a sense in which the far country calls to each of us. For those away from home for the first time, especially college students, it is the opportunity to do things that they would never do at home. The far country calls those who are weary and tired of always serving. It calls those who are weak and have had a taste of the far country before. The thirst for alcohol, the lust for passion, the thrill of doing the illegal, the fast life, the hard life, the night life calls many people. Living like a rock star. Living only to self. Living like a fool.

There is more than just a call to the far country, there is also a dissatisfaction with home. Home can actually be home. It can also be the rules that we live by. It can represent our faith, our church, our family. Bored with being a house wife. Getting nothing out of church services. Dull marriages. Tied to a job that has no satisfaction. Nothing to challenge you. Same ole’ same ole’, over and over. Stuck. In a rut. Life going by without really living. The mind complains. Then the mind begins to explore ideas and fantasies. Then the mind starts to think of options. Loose living doesn’t seem all that bad. It’s better to have some fun than be stuck, the mind thinks. Before long, the far country seems very appealing. We start thinking of how we can do it. We start justifying why we have to do it. Before like, like the prodigal, we are ready to head out the door.

The heart of the prodigal was already in the far country when he asked his father for the inheritance. He had already thought about it. He was already gone in his mind. There was no staying around that place.

The same works with us. Before a man or woman moves out of a marriage, they have thought about it over and over. The mind, not governed by God, will take you to the far country. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life has an appeal. You’ll remember, when Jesus was tempted, Satan didn’t tell Jesus to eat rocks. Rather, turn these stones into bread. Hot, buttery bread. Soft biscuits. The smell. The look. Before long, those plain, ugly rocks looked more and more like bread. That’s the far country. It doesn’t want you to see consequences, pain that it will cause others, or the trouble it may bring you. Think of the fun. Think of the freedom. Think of you. The far country tells you that you deserve it. You are under appreciated. You are not respected. No one cares for you. The far country calls you at night. It calls you when you are alone. It calls you when you’ve had a bad day. It calls you when you are driving home from work. It’s persistent. It’s loud. Once it gets in your head, it’s hard to get it out.

Our passage begins with, “not many days later…” It didn’t take the prodigal long to go. He wasn’t on the fence with his decision when he asked for his share. He already knew. His plans were thought out. This was “premeditated.” He was gone soon after he had the means.

Is there anything to do to stop the call of the far country? Are we destined to lose our young people to the far country? Like the Amish, should we just allow them to go to the world at a certain age? I, for one, do not accept that. I do not agree that nothing can be done. I do not believe that we must cave in to the far country nor that the far country always wins. Understand, the far country is not just about young people, it calls all of us. All ages. All walks of life.

Here are some thoughts:

1. The core values of right and wrong must be believed. If we just go through the motions of church, faith and godliness, then the far country will grab us by our ankles and take us for a spin. Talking about our values. Practicing what we preach. Grasping why right is right and wrong is wrong. Seeing beyond glitter and sparkle of sin to what sin does. The lost job, the divorce, the ruined reputation, the night in the jail, the withdraw letter from the church, the kicking out of the home, the lost savings, the guilt, the shame, the embarrassment, the displeasure with God, the wrath of God—these are all truths that must be seen. The Bible speaks of them. Do not look upon the wine as it sparkles in the cup, Proverbs warns us. Don’t listen to the far country. The young man walking down the street greeted by a harlot, as another Proverb presents is nothing more than the far country. The call of the far country is defeated by the call of God. The call of the Gospel must be louder and stronger than the call of sin. Teach these things. Show the folly of sin. Show the waste. Emphasize the goodness of God and all that God stands for. God knows what He is talking about.

2. There must be a deep satisfaction at home. If someone has steak at home, they will not go out for hamburger. Unrest, not content, unhappy are the cords that the far country plays in our minds. Unhappy marriages. Well, stay miserable, or, start dreaming of immoral encounters, or best yet, make your marriage satisfying. Put the romance back in it. Have a real date. Write notes. Buy flowers. Most people do not stay miserable long. They will do things to find happiness.

What about church? Do what you can to make it challenging, God centered and meaningful. Don’t wait for the preacher or the leaders to start. They may never do that. You have people in your home. You have a Bible study that is enriching and fulfilling. You go to your closet as Jesus said and pray. You go visit someone. You offer to teach a class. You are responsible for your faith, not the church. You are responsible for keeping it alive and passionate, not your preacher. What you do on a Tuesday is as vital as what you do on Sunday morning.

Not every young person going off to college will succumb to binge drinking. Not every church member in a small congregation is dead. Not every person married to a handicapped person feels trapped or stuck. No. Those folks have learned what is right and how to make things meaningful and good.

The far country, it’s calling. It’s message is on TV, radio and in magazines. It speaks during commercials and through songs. It’s speaking to you. It’s telling you that you will never be happy until you leave. It says, you must go. Leave the marriage, the church, the job, the responsibilities, the faith. Leave. The Gospel message is different. Do you hear it? Have you turned down the volume on it? Have you grown weary of hearing it?

Who are you listening to? The far country or the Gospel message? The one that speaks the loudest to you is the one that you will follow. The prodigal left because he wasn’t satisfied at home. Many are following his same steps today. Many will make the same mistakes he made. How about you? What about you?

Roger