Danny Fourie

The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.”  Luke 15:12

The parable of the prodigal son remains gripping: The boy who has grown tired of the farm, took his inheritance, went away and eventually landed up in a pigsty.

The boy's father did not hold him back at all. He let him go. God does this with us too. If we do not want to be with God anymore, he lets us go. Of course he would not want us to go. He gives us our inheritance too: our eyes, ears, hands, mind, whatever God at our birth gave us. With this you may then do as you wish.

But what does such a life without God looks like, a life without the church, without faith, without a Bible? Is there any meaning in such a life? The son in the parable apparently enjoyed his life. But later on he missed something. He did not have a friend, a real friend. When his money and partying was over, he had no friends left. The only company he had were the pigs. And he was jealous of the pigs, because they at least had something to eat.

Then he realized that his father was actually his Friend. It dawned on him that his Father was not like a boss. There were rules at his Father’s house, but his Father cared for him. He realized that he had made a mistake and decided to go back. What a brave decision.

Would his Father take him back, he wondered? Yes, he thought, because my Father is my Friend, isn’t he? And so it was. His Father was waiting for him and welcomed him with open arms.

Prayer: Thank you heavenly Father that I am your child. Thank you that I am at home with you. And thank you that you love me and care about me. Amen