Second Chances

Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is one of the best-known stories in the pages of Scripture. It clearly shows us that God gives second chances. It’s a story that illustrates God’s attitude toward us, even when we have miserably failed Him. It reveals what God is like.

The Bible says God is love. It doesn’t merely say that God is loving. Rather, it says that He is love. The apostle John wrote, “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16). God is love personified. He is love incarnate. Now that doesn’t mean He is not righteous, because Scripture certainly teaches that He is. But He loves us.

This parable shows us two things: the sinfulness of man and the love of God. It tells us that we have all run away from God, just as the son took his inheritance and left his father’s house. When he realized his mistake, “He arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). This tells us that God loves us and is willing to go to any lengths to get us back again.

This story demonstrates God’s great love toward us, even when we have miserably failed, and His willingness to forgive us if we will come to our senses and come back to Him. Because He loves us, God gives us second chances.