And When He Came To Himself

Luke 15:11-32

Background

Told for those like the older son Older son was “wasteful”

Younger Son

Saw his real condition•Came to his senses (v. 17)•Socrates said, “Know thyself”•Too many are “spiritually insane”

Answers Are Available

Life’s questions•How did I get here?•What am I to do?•Where am I going?•Have an “inquiring mind?” Ask

psychiatrists, mystics, and palm readers?

•Or, look in the Bible

Origin (God-Conscious)

Humanism’s answer•Evolution or theistic evolution•Man is highest authority•Promote abortion, euthanasia•Little respect for moral authority

Origin (God-Conscious)

Bible answers•Created by God (Genesis 1:26, 27)•Created upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29)•Deny the true nature of our origin

by sinning (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Nature (Soul-conscious)

Dual nature•Flesh subject to decay

(Ecclesiastes 12:7, 13)•Immortal spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16)•Soul cannot be touched by men

(Matthew 10:28)

Nature (Soul-conscious)

Most live to satisfy the flesh•The young prodigal (vv. 13, 30)•Foolish to live for the present

(Luke 12:16-21)•Imitate Moses (Hebrews 11:24-26)

Potential (Self-conscious)

Potential of moral depravity•Like the Gentiles (Romans 1:18-32)•Darkened in understanding

(Ephesians 4:17-19)•More evil all the time

(2 Timothy 3:13)•Lose a sense of dignity

Potential (Self-conscious)

Potential of being God-like•Can do better

(Ephesians 4:20-24; 2 Peter 1:4)•Many worthy of imitation (Hebrews

11)•Be holy (1 Peter 1:15, 16)

Responsibility (Duty-conscious)

Not a popular theme•Psychologists teach the opposite•Misbehavior blamed on environment

or heredity

Responsibility (Duty-conscious)

God holds everyone accountable•Judged individually

(2 Corinthians 5:10)•Bought with a price

(1 Corinthians 6:19, 20)•Can save ourselves and others

(1 Timothy 4:16)

Risk (Sin-conscious)

Appreciate warnings•Drug bottles•Highway signs

Risk (Sin-conscious)

Warned about sin•Recall Moses (Hebrews 11:24-26)•Deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13)

Destiny (Eternity-conscious)

Most people seem unconcerned•Concentrate on this life•Joke about hell

Destiny (Eternity-conscious)

Life after death•Certainty of judgment

(Hebrews 9:27)•All will be raised (John 5:25-29)

Conclusion

Where are you? (Genesis 3:9) Where are you headed?