Luke 15:13-16 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. (14) And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. (15) And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. (16) And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Yesterday we began looking at Jesus’ teaching of what is known as the Prodigal Son. Yesterday’s lesson we saw that the youngest of two sons asked his father for his inheritance in advance. After getting his money and stuff, he took a trip to a far away country.
In verse 13, we find that he did not use that financial windfall in a prudent or responsible manner. Instead, it says that he WASTED it with RIOTOUS living. In our modern day vernacular, we would say..,,He PARTIED like there was no tomorrow! The world would probably conclude that he had the time of his life. But that leads us to our interesting dilemma about sin: Sin will eventually let you down.
I think for too many years, too many “religious leaders” portrayed sin in such a manner that caused them to loose credibility with young people. They tried to pretend that there was NO “fun”, “enjoyment”, or “pleasure” to sin. However, when young people tried various sinful acts, they discovered that it had an element of pleasure to it. In fact, the Bible tells us that too.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
The first recorded temptation and sin tells us that there were several elements of pleasure that caused Eve to be tempted
1. She saw it was good for food
2. It was pleasant to the eyes
3. She was convinced it would give her wisdom equal to God
While the Bible does not tell us this, I cannot help but think it was quite tasty too. Maybe even better tasting than anything that she had had before.
The Hebrew writer says it this way
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
In the context, the writer is speaking of Moses. Moses had a choice: to either continue living the life of privilege as part of the family of the Egyptian Pharaoh or to follow the will of God by accepting his true heritage and suffer the afflictions of the Israelite people. But notice how the Bible describes it. “To enjoy the pleasure of sin for A SEASON”. He could have lived his entire 120 year life like a prince as a part of the royal family. But the Bible says it would still have only been for a short while. This life is temporary. Eternity is forever.
There is a truth there that we need to understand. We need to drill it in our heads and teach it to our children. YES...sin can be fun and pleasurable...but that pleasure cannot last for ever! it will run dry. It will cease. It expire. It will run its course.
Then what?
You can even go a little farther into it and have it last a little longer or you can face the consequences of the sin. All sin has consequences! There is some “fun” in alcohol and getting drunk, who has had that “fun” and not gotten into trouble in the end? Look at Lindsey Lohan. What a mess she is. Do you think that she woke up one day and say: I think I am going to ruin my life today?” No but each step that she took with sin lead her down that path.
Our prodigal son probably had “fun” to the worlds standards. But look to his end. The fun ended. Why because his money ran out. His partying friends then deserted him. Were they there when he needed them? Nope, but the pigs were. He ended up in a pig pen, happy to get the left overs from the pigs because his life had gotten so bad.
You may have fun for a while with sin. But it will NEVER last. The only thing that can and will endure is the love, mercy, grace and forgiveness of our great father and saviour!
1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Reflecting His SON,
Dennis Hogan
Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ
1804 Sam Stewart Dr.
Radcliff, KY 40160
Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com
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