After the Prodigal Son’s Party Luke 15 11-23 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

When we read about the prodigal son, we take delight in his return and in his salvation.  As parents, we yearn for our prodigal to return.  As a prodigal, we know that there is longsuffering, mercy, forbearance, and goodness with the Lord.  We rejoice in the party, the fatted calf, the robe, the ring, the shoes and the father’s testimony, “my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found,” [Lk 15:24].

What we don’t read about are the days after the prodigal son’s party.  We should consider these days.  After the party, there is:

Relief – the father sleeps peacefully knowing his son is safe now.  He works joyfully no longer checking the horizon to see if his son is coming home.  He’s home.  The son sleeps peacefully with a full belly and a comfortable bed.  He has shoes beside the bed, his robe on the hook, a ring on the night stand.  He enjoys the comforts of home and the assurance of acceptance [Eph 1:6, he’s accepted in the beloved].  That’s relief.

Rejection – Lk 15:28-30 – his elder brother was mad.  There are people who get hurt by your sin who never get over it.  The wounds are deep, the trust is gone, life is better without you around.  You say, but Christians aren’t supposed to be that way.  They are Christians, yes, but they are people, too.

Retribution – you still owe for what you’ve done.  You must serve your time, if you are convicted of a crime.  You must pay your debts and all unpaid expenses.  Mr. Christensen and his family ate pea soup for two years after they were saved, until his gambling debts were paid.  You must settle with the people you have taken advantage of.

Reaping – Jer 10:19 – Jeremiah said, “truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.”  You reap what you sow.  The reaping continues after your repentance to and reconciliation with the Lord.  And the harvest always produces more than you sowed.

Regret – Ps 31:10, “For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing.”  There’s never a week that goes by that you don’t remember your transgressions and wish that you had done things differently.  You “feel” these scars for the rest of your life.

Revenge – 2 Cor 10:4-6 after the party, life goes on.  And the Lord gives you the opportunity to revenge your disobedience.  You must redeem the time.  Work to make up for the time you lost while you were in the “far country.”

Conclusion: remember this, Sin never leaves you better than it found you.  The best thing to do is stay out of it.  Don’t become a prodigal.