A distant country
Jer 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Luke 15:11-24
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. 13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
The prodigal son
Outside of God the Father we will only live a dream world. We will waste our purpose our resources and our lives. God is able to make dreams come true. He gives us a future and a hope.
But we can see from this story that we can have our own plans and we can imagine our own futures. But the problem is that we cannot arrive whole like God planned, without God!
Matt 16:26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Ø What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world?
o The whole world! What if someone came to you and gave you the whole world? Yes everything would belong to you. The Gold, silver, land, everything!
§ What would it change in your life?
§ It would change a lot, I would do and eat and live and buy etc..
§ And then?
Ø yet forfeits his soul
o What does this mean? Well there are things that you can’t buy and things you can’t own.
§ Love, meaningful relationships, happiness, peace, a good character,…
§ While trying to get these things you will hurt people, compromise, steal, lie, and eventually end up hurt yourself. Maybe with abuse of Drugs, Alcohol, or other things and in the end:
§ Lose it all by an early death or a natural one. This life will end sooner than you think. Then what?
Ø What can a man give in exchange for his soul?
o How do I know I am losing it?
§ I can’t control my Mind, my Will (choices) or my Emotions!
§ I am not happy!
I want to look at two mistakes that we make in our search for our lives.
The distant place - The distant happiness
Ø A distant country (a far away place) the break away - did not believe it was better at home.
o Maybe because he was young and immature?
§ They think they are missing something out there. Where? I don’t know, out there!
o He believed it was better somewhere else?
§ It can be boring everywhere. There are normal days in every country, city, marriage, friendship, family, Job, Church, etc...
§ If only I was in Florida, A warmer climate, in the mountains, in the country. America, Greece, Italy, England, …
Ø Squandered his wealth in wild living (a far away life) The wasted life and Unfulfilled dreams
§ What is wealth? Maybe money…
· Your health, your looks, you abilities,
o The lie of the devil, the grass is always greener in the neighbor’s yard. Everyone else is enjoying life more than you are. The eternal search for Happiness.
o The synthetically produced substitutes (alcohol vs. Holy Spirit, Sex vs. Love, Excitement vs. Happiness, Joy and Contentment, Drugs vs. Peace, Vacations vs. a place of refuge etc…)
Ø He began to be in need - never found the empty dream (losing his soul)
§ Whatever he was looking for he didn’t find.
§ He began to realize “This is not working” (It seems like everyone else knows it’s not working, before we do)
Matt 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Ø He came to his senses – The waking up
o Good thing was he woke up while he was young.
o But it’s not too late for any of us. He is a God of New Beginnings.
Ø I will return – repentance Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you
o Go back. Repentance is not only feeling sorry but returning to the place where you left the path and continuing on that path.
o Also returning to what is really important. Relationship with God and with People.
§ Deny yourself first place, lose yourself to God. Trust that the maker of Heaven and earth, the creator of Man knows the way and how you work best.
Rev 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.
Ø Received more than he deserved