When We Run From God
When We Run From God
Luke 15:11-24
INTRODUCTION: Most saddest sites: Wal-mart; entrance wall plastered with faces of children who are missing. Some are thought to have been kidnapped; others are runaways. Throughout the country, we hear the cry of parents whose children have vanished.
I suppose some of the most heart-rending stories we have heard or read about is of the child who runs away…Run away from home looking for a better life, but they wind up in the gutters of life. 1000s of children in cities across America are living on the streets
Just as there are children who run away from their parents, there are people who run away from God. Person who grows up in a Christian home; enjoy all of the benefits and blessings being reared in a Christ-honoring, loving family. Trusted Christ as a child, involved in children and youth ministry; respected in the church and community; then when they "got old enough"; church was no longer important - God is now on the back burner; seldom even darken the doors - They are running from God.
How do people run away? Doesn't happen all at once;
Running from God is not a "blow out" but it is usually a slow leak.
Reminded of what the Bible says in… Heb. 2:1 "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away."
Running from God is more of a drift - little by little, inch by inch, foot by foot, through our actions and attitudes we get farther and farther from God. And what can happen is that the small steps eventually become giant leaps, until we are so far from God (so far out of his perfect will) that it leads to a life of misery.
In fact, if there is any story in the Bible of such a person, it is the prodigal son. He's the perfect picture of a drifter; a man on the run
As we look intently at this story of this son fleeing his family, searching for fulfillment, pursuing pleasure, God gives us a photo album of Polaroids (snap shots) taken at specific junctures in the life of a person who is running from God.
Through these pictures we are able to see the steps a person will go through as they rebel against God.
I. 10 Steps to Running from God
Whenever a person runs from God, they usually exhibit certain behaviors and attitudes, and specific qualities and characteristics that identify them as people who are on the run from God.
[1] Dissatisfied – Discontent - Son was dissatisfied with his job, family (dad who daily gave him chores and home assignments); life
1. 1st step in running from God = being dissatisfied with the Christian life - all that God has to offer;
a) Means we become dissatisfied with church, people, ministries, ministering
b) Read the Bible - don't get anything out of it.
c) No joy, no hunger, no passion (in fact, the fire we once had is almost out)
d) Talked with some people, and their fire is almost out. That is exactly where Satan wants you…dissatisfied, discouraged, discontent…because then you are at a crossroads. Either going to fan back the passion or you're going to start running from God. And Satan knows that as long as we are at that crossroads, we are not going to be effect for God. Isn't it amazing how we let what happens in church affect our attitude in the Christian life? Satisfaction for Christian living is never to be determined by our circumstances, but through a personal, intimate walk with Jesus.
[2] Desirous - not for things of God, but the things of the world, that which will gratify our flesh.
2. Prodigal son - problem was he listening to a voice other than his father's.
a) Father's voice - You stay with me and I'll give you everything you need to be satisfied (protection, provision, possessions, and most of all a personal relationship).
b) Other voice the son heard - MORE; What your dad offers is not enough…there's more OUT THERE! There's a better world away from your father. There's so much more waiting for you.
3. All of us have heard that voice. When the sun comes up and when it goes down…
4. Satan's gift is getting people to eat poison apples.
5. I believe the majority of Christians have already started drifting from God and don't even realize it.
a) How do you know? Their desire for MORE of the world is greater than their desire for MORE of God.
b) Church Attendance -- 46% of Christians in the South (Bible Belt) attend church each weekend. Tells us that people have better things to do; more important and fulfilling things in their life.
c) Debt - we buy more and more - all man's attempt to find fulfillment...but it never will (we play with it awhile, then we want something else)
d) Time & Money - that is what it boils down to.
[3] Defiant - defy family & God
6. Prodigal Son - can see in this snapshot his sharp rebukes and rebuttals to his dad; He was growing increasingly disobedient…Neglecting his chores, talking back to his parents, disobeying orders. More and more he becomes defiant toward his family.
7. When we are on the run from God, we defy His desires. Can I tell you where this is most exhibited: Home
8. When we start running from God, our homes are in disarray. Children defy their parents. Look at the husband/wife relationship - Unkind, inconsiderate, bossy, contentious…all those are signs that we are in some way running from God.
[4] Demanding - v. 12, "Give me" not "May I..."; rude, crude and obnoxious; selfish and self-centered;
9. Inheritance - ultimately wishing his dad were dead; asked for 1/3 of all his father possessed.
10. Independence -- Freedom -- make their own decisions; do their own thing; nobody telling them what to do; have
accountability to no one.
11. When a person runs from God, they don't want to live by God's rules. In fact, they don't even like hearing God's point of view.
12. Christians who are running - Quote a passage of Scripture; try to tell them God's perspective - what do they say? Stop preaching, I don't want to hear it.
13. I've been there; Ultimately, what I want to do is live my life my way…and I don't want to have to deal with God's perspective.
[5] Detached v. 13 - distanced himself from family and the people who cared most about him.
14. Hear stories of rebellious kids; when graduate - first place they want to go is far away; don't want to be around parents, just get me away. Pretty much eliminate all communication; only talk you can talk with them is when they call you.
15. That is how we are with God. When we are on the run, we don't communicate; don't participate; don't cultivate any relationship…We sever our ties with God as much as possible.
[6] Dishonor v. 13- prodigal = wasted living; sowed his wild oates;
16. Life of sin & shame; life became a big party; you name it, he did it; Do that which is so displeasing…and notice with little to no conviction.
17. You know you are running from God, when the voice of conviction is only a whisper in your life.
[7] Depleted v. 13, "wasted his possessions" - lost everything; family; money; friends
18. When the money was gone, so were his "friends."
[8] Difficulty v. 14, "severe famine"
19. Kicked when he was down;
[9] Desperate -Found himself doing for a stranger what he wouldn't do for his father -- Work!
20. Got involved in the most disgraceful, disgusting jobs a person could ever do; it was humiliating for a Jew to work with swine
[10] Destroyed - So low that no only was he feeding the pigs, but he was eating with the pigs;
21. Sought after pleasure, but only found pain
22. Searching for success, but only found failure
23. Wanted freedom, but only found slavery
24. Went to find himself, but only lost himself
25. Interesting how the world promises so much -- fulfillment and contentment, but only leaves us with emptiness.
II.Returning (v. 17)
While eating with the pigs "he came to himself"
1. Black preacher - lost all he had; didn't have any money to buy food; sold his shirt; shoes; pants...then he came to himself.
a) Jesus considers a person away from God to be mad and insane.
b) What is tragic – usually not until a person is at the end of their rope that they turn to God.
c) Why? Because they are hoping for that one last opportunity to find fulfillment without God.
If a person is to change their life, they must regain their right mind…In other words, they must see the light.
2. Realize Your True Circumstances
a) Ask the question: Is this all there is to life? No real love, no joy, no peace, no comfort Only misery!
b) Consider What You're Missing What is different? Home: Food, Shelter, Security, Friends, Family, Joy
3. Accept Responsibility (v. 18)
4. Confess Your Sin (v. 18) 1 Jn. 1:9; Ps. 32:5 "I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin."
5. Be broken (v. 19) Ps. 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart - These, O God, You will not despise."
III. Restoring
How does God respond when we come home?
- Son had sinned against heaven, rebelled, ran, rejected;
Yet when he arrived home, what did he find?
1. Love
a) A Waiting and Watching Father
b) A Compassionate Father
(1) -- Son dressed in rags; filth of pig pen all over him; but the Father didn't care. His son was home.
(2) A Running Father (kissed his son)
2. Luxury
a) Robe - giving him honor; covered the filth of the pig pen. (His forgiveness covers our sins.)
b) Ring - restoring his place of authority (God gives us a second chance; gives us back our witness and authority to make a difference in this world)
c) Shoes - Restoring him to sonship; You never stop being a son…and you receive all the rights and privileges of being a son.
d) Feast -- picture of the full acceptance of the father back into
the family - Son came home in misery, but discovered the meaning of mercy. Had the son been dealt with according the Jewish Law their would have been a funeral, but instead there was a feast.
3. Laughter -- Note the father's description of his son's experience: v.. 24
CONCLUSION: What a parallel between the prodigal coming to his father and our coming to Christ.