The Prodigal Son

Sunrise in the mountains of North Carolina

On Saturday night, I went to Greg Laurie's Chicago Harvest crusade in, well, Chicago. It was a great night of worship and just hearing about the Gospel all over to reassure my faith in Christ! He also shared my favorite parable (story) that Jesus told: The Prodigal Son.
For those of you what are not familiar with Luke 15: 11-32, it's about a father with two sons. He divides his estate to both of his sons. The younger one runs off with his share and goes onto the party life. Gambles, spends his money on fancy items, gets drunk, sleeps with prostitutes, does drugs, and the rest of the whole shebang. Meanwhile, the other son helps his father at home. A drought strikes the land and the younger son has absolutely nothing to get him through it. He decides to go home, but he feels so ashamed about the life that he chose to live because he knew that would offend greatly. How will he react to me? What do I tell him? Will he still love me?... When he gets home, his father runs out to him, and before the son can say he's sorry, His father gives him a hug and kisses him and was so happy that he came home and threw him a big dinner party.
So, what was the meaning of this? We are the prodigal sons (or daughters for women). Our sinful nature has made us run way from God for a "better" life in the eyes of the world. Yet, we are scared to come back to God and admit to our wrong doings because many of us feel that He will punish us. Folks, God loves us! In fact, He loves us so much that He sent His Son to pay the ultimate price and die for the sins of all mankind! So why would He punish you? He wants you to come back to Him, and He will embrace you with open arms when you come back home!
Listen, there was a time in my life where I was a prodigal son. I was growing in my faith during my latter years of high school, but when I went to college, that all changed. I was in the party situation my freshman year and I screwed up bad. February came when I was at a huge low point in life because I did stupid things, and I thought that I ruined my whole christian hike forever... Guess what, God knows we will screw up in life. So I repented my sins that I did and I asked Him to fill my life again! Well, to put in my terms, a tree will break and fall over during a bad storm. However, it reacts to the disaster by shooting up sprouts that grow even faster then it's previous growth. I had a bad storm hit my tree, but it resprouted quickly once it saw the light again.
Let's be honest, we've all screw up at a point in out lives right? We all are tempted to the "party" life and think it's way better for us. In the end of all that, we still feel empty and realize who've we hurt: Our Father. But remember, he's waiting for us with open arms and a great feast! I came home, and I'll never regret that. Have you come home yet?

If you ever want to come home, I'll be more then happy to give you directions.