Immediate Action
We’ve been studying the Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.
When we saw the Prodigal Son last, he was feeding pigs, and he was so hungry that he even wanted to eat the pig slop.
But he had to be brutally honest about his situation and realize that until he admitted that something was wrong, he couldn’t do anything about it.
So far in this story, we’ve seen two of the three crucial ingredients of Aha: A Sudden Awakening and Brutal Honesty. And that’s all great, but what’s next? What’s the action plan? Because that will determine the difference between a sad story and an Aha story. So let’s pick up the story in Luke 15:17.
Luke 15:17-20 NIV (17) "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! (18) I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. (19) I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' (20) So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
He had a sudden awakening… “he came to his senses…” He had to be brutally honest with himself about the consequences he deserved, “I Have sinned!”
And now, if he wants to truly have Aha, he has to act! Because unless you act, you won’t have Aha. Unless you act, it’s really just an emotional roller coaster.
Does that sound like your situation? An emotional rollercoaster.
You come to your senses and have an honest talk with yourself and you may even tell yourself what action you are going to take. But then you don’t go through with it.
It's like getting winded going up the stairs, then standing on the scale and being honest that you need to start going back to the gym.
You may even tell your family or friends that you are going to start going back to the gym and that you are going to start eating right.
But, you don’t! Then the emotional rollercoaster continues.
You see, unless you act, you won’t have Aha. Not really.
I think this is the hardest of the three ingredients of Aha to get. It’s hard to be brutally honest with yourself, with others, and with God, but translating that into action is one of the most difficult things in the world to do.
Like when you look down on the morning after Thanksgiving and see the number on the scale. You know you don’t like it, but it takes people until New Year’s to finally make a resolution to do anything about it! And even then, it never lasts…Hello? I am talking to someone this morning.
This is the hardest part of Aha. But the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 realizes that he can’t stay where he is. And Luke 15:20 says, “He got up.”
See, the Prodigal Son didn’t just stand up and start walking. He “got up” out of something bigger than just a pig pen. He got up and started a new life. “Getting up” can change everything.
“Getting up” can be the difference between divorce and mending your marriage.
“Getting up” can be the difference between struggling with an ongoing addiction – and freedom.
“Getting up” is the difference between giving in to peer pressure – and staying from that stuff you swore you’d never get into.
“Getting up” is the difference in living a healthier life or tramping on through life one miserable day at a time.
“Getting up” is the difference between continuing to feel alone – and forgiving that grudge that you’ve held onto for too long.
God wants you to get up today!
Comments
Amen!!!!!