When a Man Comes to Himself

Luke 15:11-32

Luke 15:17 “17 “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!”

Opening Story

Men, it is an honor to be with you this morning.

I heard a story about a farmer here in Alabama who had a mule that fell into an old well.

The mule was alive—but stuck.

The farmer looked down into that well and realized there was no easy way to get him out.

So he called his neighbors.

They all stood around the well for a while—hands in pockets—doing what men do best… supervising.

Finally, somebody said, “Well, the mule’s old… and the well needs to be filled anyway.”

So they grabbed shovels and started throwing dirt in the well.

At first, the mule panicked.

But after a few minutes, something interesting happened.

Every time dirt hit his back…

He shook it off…

And stepped up.

Dirt… shake… step up. Dirt… shake… step up.

Until eventually—

That mule stepped right out of that well.

Now I want you to hear this:

That mule was not delivered in one big moment…

He was delivered one step at a time.

And men, that’s how most of us come home.

Not in one leap…

But in one decision.

And that’s exactly what Jesus is talking about in Luke 15.

Because this is not just the story of a prodigal son…

It’s the story of every man who has ever had to find his way back home.

1. Every Man Has a Far Country

Jesus said in verse 13:

“He took a journey into a far country…”

Now men, notice something.

Nobody forced him to leave.

He left because he wanted to.

That’s the heart of sin.

Not weakness.

Willfulness.

He basically said to his father,

“I want your stuff… but I don’t want you.”

And men, if we’re honest…

We’ve all had our far country.

Now your far country may not look like somebody else’s.

For some men, it was wild living.

For others, it was quiet drifting.

Some men walked away from church.

Some walked away from their family.

Some walked away from their convictions.

Some just slowly walked away from God.

And here’s the thing about the far country…

It always looks better on the brochure.

It promises freedom…

But it delivers bondage.

Verse 14 says,

“He began to be in want.”

Isn’t that always how it happens?

Sin will take you farther than you wanted to go…

Keep you longer than you wanted to stay…

And cost you more than you wanted to pay.

And men—listen carefully—

You don’t have to live in Las Vegas to be in the far country.

You can be sitting in church…

And still be a million miles from God.

Now I’ll tell you something else I’ve noticed about men.

Men are stubborn creatures.

Women ask for directions.

Men pray for revelation.

We’ll drive 45 minutes in the wrong direction before admitting we’re lost.

Because something in us hates to admit we messed up.

And that brings us to the turning point of the whole story.

2. Every Man Has a Moment of Awakening

Verse 17 says,

“But when he came to himself…”

That may be the most powerful phrase in the whole Bible.

When he came to himself.

He didn’t come to church first.

He didn’t come to religion first.

He came to himself first.

He had a moment of honesty.

And men, most of us know that moment.

It might happen:

Sitting in a deer stand…

Driving down a dirt road…

Sitting alone in your truck…

Lying awake at night…

When suddenly you realize…

“This isn’t who I’m supposed to be.”

He said,

“I will arise and go to my father.”

Now don’t miss this.

He didn’t fix himself first.

He didn’t clean himself up first.

He just turned around.

And men, that’s what repentance is.

It’s not perfection.

It’s direction.

It’s deciding,

“I’m going home.”

Some of you men this morning…

You’ve been successful.

You’ve built a business.

Provided for your family.

Worked hard.

But if you’re honest…

Something inside you knows…

You’re not where you need to be with God.

You may be a good man…

But you know you’re not a saved man.

You may be a respected man…

But you’re not a surrendered man.

And the good news is…

You’re one decision away from home.

3. Every Man Needs a Father’s Grace

Verse 20 says,

“But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him…”

Now how did the father see him?

Because he was looking for him.

And the Bible says…

He ran.

Men in that culture didn’t run.

It wasn’t dignified.

But love made him run.

And when he reached him…

He didn’t lecture him.

He didn’t shame him.

He embraced him.

The son started his speech:

“Father, I have sinned…”

But the father interrupted him.

Because grace always interrupts shame.

And men, listen carefully—

That father in the story…

Is a picture of God.

God is not looking for a reason to reject you.

He is looking for an opportunity to receive you.

Closing Story

Let me make this personal.

If my son walked away from me today…

And I saw him coming back down the driveway tomorrow…

I wouldn’t wait inside.

I wouldn’t cross my arms.

I wouldn’t say, “Let’s see how serious he is.”

I’d run to him.

And men…

That’s exactly how God feels about you.

Invitation

So let me ask you something this morning.

Are you home?

Or are you still in the far country?

You may be successful…

Respected…

Hard-working…

But you know in your heart…

You’re not right with God.

And the good news is this:

You don’t have to stay there.

You don’t have to fix yourself first.

You don’t have to clean yourself up first.

You just have to come home.

Because no man is so far gone…

That he cannot come home.

And maybe this morning…

It’s time for some men…

To come to themselves.

And come home.

Prayer

You could close:

“Lord, thank You that You receive men like us. Not because we deserve it—but because You love us. Help us come home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”