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"But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything."
(Luke 15:14-16)
Jesus spoke in parables. Perhaps his most famous is the one we are studying this week. It is a story of tragedy and triumph, disaster and deliverance, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. The background or original context of this parable was that a large crowd had gathered around Jesus that included tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees were there as well and doing what they always did: criticizing Jesus. They asked why He was eating with tax collectors and sinners. In response, Jesus told three memorable stories: one about a lost coin, another about a lost sheep, and another about a lost son. The primary principle of the story of the prodigal son, according to Dr. Stanley, was this: whatever we acquire outside the will of God will turn to ashes.
The prodigal son is a prime example of someone reaching out beyond the will of God and acquiring things that turn to ashes. God allows us to acquire things outside His will. He can stop us, but He allows it because He has granted us freedom of choice. He did not make us like robots–emotionless machines with no volition or choice. God gave us the gift of free will. We all make good choices and poor choices. None of us would want to be without the ability to decide. God knew Adam and Eve would sin against Him, but He allowed them the ability to choose freely nonetheless.
The prodigal son decided what he would do when he got his inheritance. From Hebrews 11:24-25, we know Moses made the opposite choice: "By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin."
What will you do? What decision will you make regarding the temptations before you right now? You have a choice: pursue a life of sin and pleasure or turn to Christ and follow the Lord's plan for your life. No doubt, sin has pleasure; the devil will only show you the glamorous side of sin, and he will hide the hard truth about the consequences. Adam and Eve had everything in the Garden of Eden. Satan tempted them with the one tree that they could not eat from. "God is holding out on you" is one of the biggest and oldest lies of Satan. "You will not die if you eat from it," the serpent said to Eve (Genesis 3:4). Dr. Stanley said, "Satan kept talking and she kept listening." Eve had to forget all the beauty and abundance around her and focus on a false promise instead. "Look what you don't have. You could be like God... and so much more. Just take a bite." And she did.
It is vitally important to combat the enemy's lies with the truth of God's Word. We must hide His Word in our hearts, so we do not sin against God (Psalm 119:11).
Perhaps you are reading today's devotion and are facing a strong temptation to embrace that which is not God's will for you. Please resist the temptation by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask God for help. He will always provide a way out, according to 1 Corinthians 10:13. I am praying for you.
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