When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

Luke 15: 17-20

Last week I mentioned a quote centered on the idea that a few very important decisions guide the direction of our lives. Long ago, when I was still in college, I was heading in a direction that certainly would have taken me in quite a different direction than where I ended up. It was during that time when a good friend of mine challenged me to open my eyes to a particular situation. He said I needed to open my eyes, to snap out of it and come to my senses!

I’m not sure he would remember that moment today, but it served as a turning point for me.  

In the passage above, the younger son did not have the benefit of a friend like mine. Instead, he paid a heavy price for the choices he made in his youth. Yet, it was those very decisions that helped him snap out of his rebellion and we see at least three additional decisions in his story. 

• He came to his senses.
• He decided to return to his father’s house.
• He got up and headed home. 

Each of the three choices is essential to the story. I’ve known people who live with regret but are unwilling to take the next step. I’ve known others who have formulated a plan but fail to take action. And then there are those who actually take the next step. 

The younger son did not realize it, but his repentance and return had already brought redemption and restoration in his life as he turned around, left his former life and headed for home.