Coming to Ourselves
Coming to Ourselves
A prodigal son's perspective and action sets the stage for freedom
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! ...’” Luke 15:17 (ESV)
Yes, life has a way. To escape the bondage of our sin life, we must come to ourselves, meaning that we must awaken to the reality of our life. Some of us will have a lot of waking up to do. In one sense, that makes it easier. For us, it is easier to realize that something is amiss precisely because it is so amiss. That is both good and bad. We come to the realization but have a long way to go. The road will be longer and rougher. Knowing that may make it hard to start the journey because of guilt, shame, fear, or a depth of hopelessness. Others may have a more difficult time realizing their state simply because it doesn’t seem to be that bad. It is easy to look around and tell ourselves that our sins do not seem so bad in comparison. Life looks good and feels good. Maybe it isn’t, and maybe it is. It is all a matter of perspective, and your position changes the view. We all have sin in our life. We are called to come to ourselves, or “come to our senses,” in a manner that breaks our heart when we realize what we have sacrificed to attain the counterfeit pleasure of a sinful existence. Coming to ourselves is the moment of encounter with the truth of our life, and our broken heart is the sweet fruit of the encounter. You might ask how a broken heart can be sweet fruit. Good question. Here’s the answer: when it causes us to face the reality of our life and surrender it with a contrite heart before God.
If you are struggling with questions about this in your own life, I ask you to do one thing: think about where you are positioned. Your position changes the way you see yourself and the life you are living. Are you positioned in the world and looking through the eyes of the world? Try moving. Position yourself in Christ, hanging on the cross and being crucified in Him, and look at yourself and your life through His eyes as He hangs there, paying the price for your freedom. The price has already been paid, all you have to do is collect on it. He loved you enough to lay down His life for you. Do you love Him enough to honor His sacrifice with your acceptance? Let your heart become broken. Believer or seeker, the answer is the same: surrender to His love and begin the journey home.
We Must Act
I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants. And he arose and came to his father.” Luke 15:18-20a (ESV)
We must act despite everything that battles to stop us. Nothing can happen until we overcome inertia and take the first steps. The Parable of the Prodigal Son lays out a pathway that we can follow in our own circumstance. First, he got up, meaning that his first action was to recognize his condition and decide to do something about it that only he could do. He stood up. That alone is a significant thing. It is a signal and encouragement to yourself that you have sunk as low as you are going to sink. When you stand you engage action with emotion and, as simple as it may sound, it is powerful. Stand with determination and conviction and take the first step forward.
Notice the prodigal son’s humility as he returns to his father. He does not ask to be returned to his old station in the family line. Instead, he asks to be treated as one of the servants, without qualification of what he is willing or unwilling to do. In doing this, he signals to others that he realizes he was wrong and is taking responsibility for his actions, asking for acceptance not as who he used to be but as he is now.
The world elevates personal power and prestige and looks down on humility. Power and prestige are not necessarily bad things, as long as they are godly power and prestige. But when they come from a corrupted soul there is no good end in sight. Humility, the willingness to place ourselves under the care of our loving Creator through brokenness and surrender, however, changes everything.
Next week we will explore what happens when we do.
Shalom
Author’s Note: This post is an excerpt from Even Me, Even You, which is the story of my own journey out of darkness and back into the Light of God’s mercy, and grace.