The story of the prodigal son is one of the most beloved parables in Scripture, yet its power is often softened by familiarity. Jesus tells of a young man who took his inheritance, squandered it in reckless living, and found himself destitute in a foreign land. Starving and humiliated, he longed for the food of the pigs he was tending—until, as the Scripture says, “he came to his senses” (Luke 15:17, BSB). That moment of realization, that painful awakening to the depth of his folly, was a gift. But had it not led him home, it would have been a wasted sorrow.
“There would have been no ring, no robe, no kiss, no feast if the prodigal had remained in the far country or returned impenitent. A guilty conscience is a great blessing, but only if it drives us to come home.” John Stott
John Stott’s words remind us that conviction of sin is not an end in itself. A guilty conscience can be a terrible burden, but it is meant to be a means of grace, urging the sinner to repentance. The prodigal might have wallowed in self-pity, convincing himself that he was beyond forgiveness. He might have sought to improve his circumstances without ever returning to his father. But neither of those would have restored him. The turning point was not merely his regret, but his decision to rise and go home.
The Father’s Unexpected Welcome
When he arrived, he expected nothing but servitude. He had prepared a speech: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:18-19, BSB). Yet before he could even finish, his father ran to meet him, embracing him with a love that defied expectation. The ring, the robe, the feast—these were not rewards for his suffering, but marks of undeserved grace. He had come empty, and he was filled. He had come filthy, and he was clothed. He had come expecting a master, and he found a father.
The Call to Return
How often do we linger in the far country, reluctant to return? How many remain in sorrow, unwilling to believe that God’s mercy extends even to them? True repentance does not dwell in shame but runs toward grace. The Father is not waiting to scold but to embrace. The prodigal’s joy was not in his misery, but in his restoration. If conviction of sin does not bring us to Christ, it leaves us in despair. But when it leads us home, it becomes the pathway to joy.
Have you felt the weight of your own far country? Do you sense the Spirit stirring your heart, calling you to rise and go to the Father? Do not delay. The welcome of heaven is ready, and the arms of the Father are open.
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they will become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18, BSB)
Cross References: Psalm 32:5; Joel 2:13; 2 Corinthians 7:10.
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