FAITH CAPSULE: Going far from Him will expose man to every trouble of this world.

Luke 15

How far are you from God? A parable is an everyday truth that has spiritual application. It is an earthly truth with a heavenly meaning. Jesus spoke many times using parables. He gave a parable of the lost son. This parable clearly connotes the mind of God concerning repentance and restoration of man from sin. Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.  But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.” (Luke 15:11-14)
Jesus is the indescribable gift of God for man (2 Corinthians 9:5). Will you receive Him as God’s gift? Having received Jesus the gift of God, will you embrace Him by retaining Him to maintain Him and not be a waste? Jesus went to the cross and shed His blood for our possession as one that is restored living for the glory of God. In the parable, the younger son had his possessions and went far from his father. Today, man cannot afford to have Jesus and go far from the presence of God in this wicked world. Going far is man’s choice to go on his way that seems right. Proverbs 14:12 enlightened about man’s way that seems right, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Going far from Him will lead to a debased extravagant life which is a wasted life. A wasted life will always provoke a life of “want” and “relegation” from what God wants us to be. Going far from Him will expose man to every trouble of this world.
How are you living life? Are you living in the fear of God? Have you gone far from Him like the prodigal son? The prodigal son went far from his father but realized the need to return to his father before his self-destruction. It is written, “But when he came to himself, 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.’” (Luke 15:17-19) It is time to come back to yourself just like the prodigal son came back to himself. Man can never be too late to return to God when there is a need for restoration and be walking near to God.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace goodness and mercy of God to keep you near to Him.