April 7, 2024—Let me tell you about inheritance. When a loved one passes away, you may inherit something of theirs. What you could inherit varies, but it could be property, money, or other financial assets. Some people invest wisely in their monetary gains, while others waste them. Let me tell you about two sons with a focus on the one who recklessly spent his inheritance.
The Prodigal Son: His Inheritance Wasted
In Luke 15:11-31, we learn the story of two sons and a wealthy father. The younger son approaches his father and asks for his inheritance. When he received it, he departed from his home and nation and spent it on foolish things. When he had spent everything, a severe famine hit the land, and “he began to be in want” (verse 14). Joining himself to a man of the country, he began caring for his pigs. He craved the pig’s food in deep hunger, but no one gave him anything (verse 16). It occurs to him that he is better off at home, where his father’s servants have food to spare.
And so, the son made up his mind, saying,"I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”(Luke 15:18-19) With a heavy heart and a renewed sense of humility, he returned to his father. And what a sight it was! His father, upon seeing him from afar, ran to him with his face filled with compassion. He fell on his knees and kissed his son's neck, a gesture of forgiveness and love.
His son said, “‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (verse 21).
To his surprise, his father told the servants to put on the best robe on him, a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet (verse 24). His father also instructed the servants to slaughter the fatted calf, “for this son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry” (verse 24).
The older brother was in the field and heard the music and dancing. He asked one of the servants what was happening. After they told him his brother returned, the older son was angry and refused to celebrate with them. His father pleaded with him, and the older son said:
“Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
Luke 15:29-30
The Holy Bible continues, “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ” (Luke 15:31).
Everlasting Inheritance
In Luke 15:14, we learn about a famine that hit the land, “But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.” There is a hunger for God in the land today. You long for something, but you do not know what that is. Beloved, you are seeking God. How can you not, when the Bible clearly states that you were made in His image,
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Genesis 1:26
According to Ecclesiastes 3:11, God placed eternity in your heart. This means that you are made to seek God. When you do not seek God, you look for something else. You think that people, drugs, alcohol, food, intercourse, or something else can fill the void. However, this cannot be further from the truth. God wants to fill that void with something greater!
Deep in your soul, you know there is something out there that is greater. Psalm 63:1 says:
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You.
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
When Jesus Christ of Nazareth was at the well with the Samaritan Woman, He told her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13-14). Jesus told her He is the Messiah. Your soul quenches for the living water that is Jesus. Your soul wants Jesus. Romans 6:23 says that death is wages for sin. When Jesus was crucified, He paid for your sins. Three days later, Jesus Christ was resurrected. In the resurrected body, Jesus walked on the earth for 40 days. After the resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven, where He sits at the right hand of God today. By accepting Jesus Christ, you inherit everlasting life (heaven).
Why You Need This Inheritance
The world was so evil during Noah's time that God destroyed it with a flood (see Genesis 7). However, He instructed Noah to build an ark suitable for his family and several animals. It rained for forty days and forty nights, and the floods remained for 150 days (Genesis 7:24). Anyone or anything not on the ark was destroyed. Only eight people were saved. The flood is indisputable due to archeological evidence and the story of this flood across several different cultures.
You may be wondering, “What made the world so evil that God would destroy it?” The answer is sin. Sin is an offense against God’s Law. The Apostle Paul said that if he had not known the law, he would not have known what sin is (Romans 7:7). This means reading the Holy Bible and having a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Regardless of ignorance of God’s law, the Holy Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory, but you are redeemed through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-24). In addition, if you do not understand the Holy Bible, you are open to demonic attacks and you will sin.
When the flood came, the world was in judgment. When you die, you will be judged (Romans 14:10-12). You can either have Jesus take your place because He died for you, paying the price for your sin, or you can be judged, found guilty of sin, and condemned to Hell. Which is it going to be?
Accepting Jesus
Whatever you choose to do with any inheritance, it will eventually run out. Jesus died for you on the cross and defeated death when He was resurrected. Through Jesus Christ, God gave you the gift of eternal life (John 10:28). When you accept Jesus and are baptized, you receive the Holy Spirit, who guides you on your Christian journey. Are you ready to accept an inheritance that lasts forever? Say this prayer aloud:
God, I confess that Jesus came in the flesh and blood, paid the price for my sins, died on the cross, rose on the third day, ascended to the heavens, and sent the Holy Spirit to help me understand Your ways. For that, I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord, and I welcome the Holy Spirit in my life. In Jesus’s name I pray, amen!
Welcome to the Christian family!
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