The Prodigal's Restlessness and Rebellion, v11-13.

III. THE SON'S DEPARTURE, continued

2. It is a venture into the unknown. He did not know what lay over the horizon! Here is the irrational attitude that sin produces! The boozer, the drug-taker all indulge in that which is very evidently harmful and dangerous. Who knows what a day will have for us? "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow," James 4:14.

Not so with the obedient child of God. While we may not know what a day will bring forth we have this assurance: "For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me," Job 23:14. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose," Romans 8:28. "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thess 5:9. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way," Ps 37:23. "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not," Ps 17:5.

"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," 2 Corinthians 5:1. We "know" where we are going! "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day," 2 Timothy 1:12. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is," 1 John 3:2.

3. He has no intention of returning. He gathers all together. He will not leave anything behind that might cause his return. What a mind-set the sinner has. He is determined to have nothing to do with God. "But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me," Psa 81:11 "Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit . . . . For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water," Jeremiah 2:11, 13 "They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof," Pro 1:30.

4. He puts as much distance between himself and his father as he can. He went to a 'far' country. He wishes him out of his sight and out of his mind.

Beware that this is not the spirit that is at work in you.

May God open your eyes and cause you to see and understand the consequences of departing from the Lord.