The Journey of the ProdigalSample

Change of Direction

Luke 15:20 - “So he got up and went to his father.”

This is the turning point of the whole story. Without this one verse, this man’s story would have been just another fantasy to be free. However, this small verse is packed with important ideas that are necessary for those of us who want recovery to truly get it. 

Here is an important question: Where was this man when he destroyed his own life? That’s right; he was still in a distant country. He was probably hundreds or thousands of miles from home. 

This was not a two-day walk; it required weeks, perhaps months. He had to walk constantly and persistently in the opposite direction of his addiction lifestyle. He had to forsake people, places, and things he might have grown fond of in his addiction. He had to leave all with which he had become familiar and walk a long way to reach home. 

Some people preach this scripture as if the son repented and his father jumped into the pigpen and hugged him. That’s just not true at all. The father was at home. The son had to do all the work, day after day. The son had to deny the impulse to be lazy, organize his resources to walk again, and implement his recovery plan.

This young man was willing to take full responsibility. He didn’t blame God, his father, mother, family of origin issues, abuses or neglects. He took full responsibility for his sin.

Like him, you are going to have to do life differently to get recovery. You may need to give up people, places, and things to which you are emotionally attracted. You’re going to have to make time to do recovery work: complete the workbooks, attend the meetings, make phone calls, and face the real issues. You’re going to have to consistently, persistently stay focused on the Father and walk a different walk...every day.

Recovery can be measured. If you’re doing the work, you want to be free. If you’re not doing the work, you only wish to be free, but are unwilling to do what recovery requires. 

The son had done the work of recovery daily, consistently, over a long period of time. Every day his character improved. No alcohol, no prostitutes, no crazy spending, no out of control behavior; he made a complete change in his life’s direction. Broken of self-will, determined to be free from his past, committed to serve others, he found his recovery.