One of the most famous stories told by Jesus in the Bible is the parable of the prodigal son. The gist of the story is that a young man asks his dad for his inheritance and then heads off into the world, squandering his money on wild living. Then, when all the money is gone, it happens that there’s a famine in the country and he falls on hard times: really hard times. At the lowest point of his life, we find him working the worst of jobs, feeding pigs and even longing to eat some of the pig food because he’s so hungry. Finally he comes to his senses and decides to go back to his old dad. He returns to his father, contrite and ready to do even the most menial of work if his dad would just take him back. Of course (if you know the story) his dad is overjoyed to get his son back and throws a big party to celebrate the prodigal’s return. His older brother is not so happy and refuses to join the party. That’s how the story ends.
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| The Return of the Prodigal Son (1773) by Pompeo Batoni |
I’m sure this story has been preached thousands of times in churches all around the world and for centuries. The main meaning is pretty clear, that God delights in us turning back to him, no matter what we’ve done. He’s ready to forgive us and bring us back into His family. Looking at the story in context (see Luke 15), it follows the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, all given in response to the religious folks of the time grumbling about Jesus hanging out with “tax collectors and sinners.” Jesus came to seek out sinners and bring them back to God. For anyone who wants to dig deeper into the true meaning of this passage I highly recommend Tim Keller’s book Prodigal God.
Recently I’ve been reflecting on the fact that a lot of young men and women, from their late teenage years through their 20’s, seem to turn away from God for a season. Some do this as a full-on rebellion against their parents, against “old-fashioned” ways, or against any form of what’s seen to be “the establishment,” including the Church.
But I think maybe a bigger section of young men and women turn from God in a more subtle way. They might consider themselves “believers” still, but maybe what they believe is less certain. They may pray sometimes, but less frequently. Heck they might even open a Bible now and then, but not too often. For sure, they don’t go to church very often, if ever, and for sure they don’t consider themselves to be members of a church. Their focus has shifted. That church stuff isn’t so important. They are more and more interested in the things of this world. They want to experience new things: new entertainments, new games, new movies, new music, new feelings.
Jesus wrote about this in His parable of the sower of seed where He describes seed that fell among thorns which “are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature” (See Luke 8:4-18 for the parable and meaning). I might write about this in a future blog, but I have a different purpose and focus for this blog.
Continuing to reflect on the observation that young people drift away from the church, I realize that that’s my story too. I became a Christian at the age of 17 and through my university years I was pretty passionate about my faith, but through my 20’s I drifted away from God, increasingly enticed and bogged down in the pleasures and cares of this world. I hit rock bottom with a divorce, financial debts, and just a suitcase of clothes at the age of 28, when I moved to the United States. Then, through the influence of my now wife, Deanna, and the prompting of God, I “came to my senses” and slowly but surely I turned back to God. We started attending a church. I started praying more, reading the Bible, and seeking after God again. And like a prodigal returning to his father, my Father God gently restored me back into a relationship with Him.
Fast forward 20 years or so and now this 50 year old is fully convinced that the most important thing everyone should focus on is their relationship with God. I encourage everyone to consider the most important relationship in your life which is between you and God, but I especially encourage those in their late teens or 20’s, who’re experiencing the world and all it has to offer to “come to your senses” sooner rather than later. Like a prodigal returning to their father, return to your Heavenly Father. He loves you and will restore you. There is nothing like it in this world.
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
