AVOID RIOTOUS LIVING!
And not many days after the younger son gathered, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. (Luke 15:13)
As we celebrate with the youth who are graduating, it is important to caution them that the future is largely in their hands. Many of us who are older remember the "visions of sugar plums" that we had when we marched across the stages to receive our diplomas. It was definitely a special occasion for high school graduates who looked forward to independence from being at home under the watchful eyes of parents. But we quickly learned that there were pitfalls awaiting those of us who were not careful. I look back now at some of the "old sayings" that my parents gave me, such as: "If it looks to good to be true, it generally is;" or, "all that glitters is not gold;" and "the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence."
In the passage above, the prodigal son soon realized that life was not as he thought it would be when he left home. He spent all of his money on riotous living. As a result, he found himself in a pig pen feeding the hogs. Thank goodness he had enough sense to come to himself and go back home to his father where he found love, forgiveness, and shelter.
This parable was not only talking about a human father who loved his son, but our Heavenly Father as well. Hopefully, the wise person will avoid riotous living. But should we find ourselves in life's pig pens, may we always remember that we can come home to a loving Father who will forgive us and give us another chance!
