Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1915-03-13

chapter in answer
to the Pharisees and scribes who
murmured and said, This man re-
ceiveth sinners and eateth with
them" Yes. he did. and he does
that is our encouragement and our
hope. Let us use the story by way
of application.
Rejection.
Nothing the father had was good
enough for the younger son. The ia
Tiers will was too strict, his ways
too serious, his home too solemn. This
is not life--I will not abide here. but
! will use my personal liberty and
be a man. What a weakling is he
who cannot endure or enjoy the will
of him whose chief concern is about
the welfare of his son. God pity the
man who spurns his fathers love.
turns his back upon home. and goes
into the far country. He may go
only around the corner, but away from
the fathers love and care is indeed
the far country. Knowing the end of
that man, if he persists in his wilful
waywardness and wickedness, it is
| easy to write his epitaph: He went
| out and it was night and for such
an one there is the blackness o. dark.
ness forever. Beware of the first viii
full rejection of your father, and the
first step away from home. The
news from the far country may be al.
l1frfnQ htIt he a
Reflection.
The fascination OF the far coun-
Try faded away upon close contact
with it; the music which charmed
the youth soon turned into discord
he mirage which lured him from
acme disappears and leaves only the
desert; fer this prosperous young
man. with many friends while he had
money. but now bankrupt and bereft,
there is not even the shadow OF a
5reat rock in a weary land AND
when he had spent all. there arose a
mighty famine in that land; and he
began TO be in want. And he would
fain have filled his belly with the
husks that the swine did eat: and nc
man gave unto him"
Il perish with hunger" And no
IAN gave unto him." he was denied
the very husks that the swine did
eat. Could any Jew come to greater
degradation than feeding swine? And
then find no profit not even support,
in his service. Does not sin pay?
Is there pleasure in 'life?" May we
not SOW wild oats? Yes, sin pays
but in its own coin: the wages OF sin
is death. Whatsoever man soweth
that shall he also reap.
Resolution.
Thank God there is a way back
home.
a. In the heart. Il will arise and
60 Dissatisfied. disappointed, de-
spairing, near to death. perhaps, the
vision glorious OF what he has missed
by his own wilful rejection now fills
his mind and stirs his heart. Even
servants in the fathers house have
more than have. and ! perish with
hunger. These dead sea apples were
beautiful to the eye but ashes TO the
taste. Il will arise and go. and gay"
But, further, resolution also.
b. In the habit: And he arose and
came" Resolution OF heart is not
enough. Many prodigal has been
sorry for his sinful condition. but
has died amid his sinful surroundings.
You may be sorry when wealth and
health and hope are gone and still
die in that far country. Il will arise
and go. and he arose and
came" That was his salvation from
The human standpoint; and it will be
yours.
Reception.
When he was yet a great way on
ais father saw him" You have never
been as homesick as the father has
been soR-sick. And now, at last we
see the wistiul look upon the face.
Sc can hear the welcome loving in
he voice, we can see the tears in the
yes. we can feel the very thro5bing
If the heart of God. Dear MEND.
his is not Il story TO be told; it is an
Of the soul TO be realized |
By every one who comes 20 Cod
through faith In Jesus Christ. Yoy
nay have been wilful, wHsteiul AZ.
but God loves you: hi
ocs you by the Holy Spirit; ne cal
on in tsnd9r tones that sound OF
boye the din OF the far country-"Ol
Irodlgal child. come home Com
.ow. and find the reality and the I,
bliss OF the fathers We