Journey of a "Prodigal" - Part 1: Where am I?
There have been hundreds of commentaries and books written, and countless numbers of sermons preached, on the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32). What is common across a majority of the work done to unpack this parable is that it is nearly always told from the perspective of an observer, from behind the veil, or looking out of the kingdom into a broken world at the “Prodigal”. Believers often speak of their “wilderness experience” but this rarely equates to experience as a Prodigal. One other significant point that I believe is often overlooked is that the Prodigal was in his father’s house, to interpret this; he was part of God’s kingdom, saved and sure of his inheritance! Further, he didn’t drift away, didn’t lose interest, didn’t get distracted by something else, but forcefully (some say) and deliberately chose to leave God’s kingdom to pursue a time of indulgence and revelry. Other points in the story are no less shocking; the Prodigal was the younger son, and...