The Prodigal Son of Luke 15:11-32 was a disgusting, ridiculous mess of a boy/man, and then he came home.
There was a home he could go to – a place where he knew how sinful it was to lie, cheat, steal, shack up, get drunk, worship himself and live a wasteful life. Home was a place where he knew he would be confronted with the guilt of his sins. And that is where he had to go. He had to repent. He had to say I’m sorry. He had to admit it all and accept the worst. The load on his shoulders was not bearable.
But the problem with our worshipped athletes today is that home is where they learned to worship themselves. Home is where they learned that winning is the top requirement for worship…so just make sure you win and everything else is secondary. They have no home to come home to. No place to repent. No place to weep and openly admit it all.
This is grevious! Why don’t we give them someplace to come home to? Why do we give them only the false idea they are worthy to be worshipped? Or the false idea that the point of repentance is to be worthy to be worshipped again?
Look what happens when there is a place to come home to:
“…But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father told his slaves, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:20-23
Bible Studies by Kathleen Dalton 