Gilpin observer., 1912-02-08
SUNDAYS SERMON

Luke 1915, Il Will arise ana 20 10
my father"
There is no more familiar passages
in the scripture than this parable Of
tine prodisal son. There is no pass
age truer to life than this. This is
a favorite theme of many preachers,
and l have been amazed at the var
iaty of sermons that are preached
from this parable. know one man
who, when he breaches from this text
makes the rrodigal almost a saint.
He pictures him as an ambitious
young man. Shows his herd of cam
els and his covered wagons as he
starts out into life, and of course,
makes him the victim of circum-
stances, and adversely. / once heard
a man so into the pulpit and an
nounce that he was to preach about
the prodigal son, and he talked about
the older brother that stayed at home
and was not a prodigal at all.
The prodigal that / place before
you as / find him in this parable is
not a saint He is not as good as
the son who remained at home and
obeyed the father. He is sinner and
a deep-dyed sinner at that. He is a
man who followed the leadings of
the evil one until he led him to his
ruin. He is man who turns his
back upon God and chooses sin; who
goes into that far country, away from
home, and all that is pure and holy.
He is man who, when the world
had cast him off because the world
haa drained his life of virtue, of
everything that was coed it had nc
more use fer him; then he came to
himself and remembered that in his
fathers house was enough and to
spare; said i will arise and go to
my father and will say unto him,
Father, l have sinncd against heav-
en- and before thee, and am no more
worthy to be called thy son. Make
me as one of thy hired servants"
l have not chosen this theme to
make any sensational statements
about the prodigal, for l talk to reas-
enable men and women. But l have
selected this parable that l may bring
to you the beautiful picture Of Gods
willingness to receive the wanderer
who has gono far from the path of
holiness, as it is presented in the
Father of the prodigal as well as
to speak of the prodigal himself.
A good many of us have been in
that far country away from holiness
and away from God. A good many
of us have fed upon the husks of
the wcrld until in spiritual poverty
We came to ourselves, and said
with him of old, Il will arise and go
to my father" We came with con-
fession for Our sins. We came in
were no more worthy to be called
children of God We came with the
deepest earnestness, willing to ac-
cept any place if we might only come
into Gods kingdom. The prodigal in
the parable returned, about as we re-
turned to God. This is Gods way for
the return of the sinner faithfully
pictured in this parable.
Sometimes when study this story
oc the prodigal. I think see great
long line of prodigals reaching from
the temple of God down to the fires
of hell. Since man sinned. every one
So
But If God take him before he starts
10 that far country and the blood of
Christ wash the father sin away he
is safe. But no man save the God
man ever reached the years Of matur-
ity without starting for that far far
country. =.
Now, in my line of prodigals see
the boy, rosy-cheeked boy. bright
eyed. boy with golden curls, stand in
the temple Of God; but his face is
away from God and there is a dreamy
look in his eye. He is thinking Of
that far country and of the sweets
of the forbidden fruit. Oh, how easy
It is to take golden-haired boy like
that, and tell him of the bitterness
of sin and warn him of the dangers
of the way that he is dreaming about
and tell him of the loving heavenly
father, and how out of his great love
re gave Jesus to die that we thought
faith in him might have eternal life.
Tell him of the songs that the an
gels sing, Of the better way that
leads to the highest in life and to
heaven, and with our hands on the
ringlets Of gold we may kiss away
the dreamy look from his eyes un-
I'll the bright eyes of our boy will
sparkle with holy light. The ambi-
ton to be God.like will fill his soul,
and olIr boy will como to himaelf and