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Today we are going to talk about the parable of the prodigal son. This parable tells a tale of two sons and a good, good father. The youngest son tells the father he wants his stuff now! He was pretty much telling his dad, he would rather his dad be dead than to not have his stuff. When his dad gave him some, he took it all and went to a far off land. He then started hanging out with the drunkards and prostitutes. He spent all of his money and then tried to get a job, but a famine came. Eventually he took a job that went against everything he was raised to believe. He then realized he messed up. There has to be a point in everyone’s lives when we realize that God has more in store for us than what we get ourselves into. As long as he was with the father he did not have to worry about anything. He left the real source to go somewhere he thought was better. Often, we do the same thing to God, but he always welcomes us back with open arms!

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To be chosen means to be selected, to be picked out from the bunch. All of us have a calling on our lives. Gideon was a man who was simply trying to provide for his family when God appeared to him and chose him. God told him to get an army together to fight trained soldiers. He also gave him requirements. God told Gideon to send home all of the men who were fearful because He knew they would run away in time of need. God also told him to send home all of the men who did not lap up water like dogs because He knew they would not be watchful. Gideon was left with 300 men to fight over 135,000. God told them to shout “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon…”. Even though Gideon was not nearly as powerful as God, God told them to include Gideon’s name because God uses people. God wants to use you. A popular scripture says “many are called but few are chosen”. You can be called and not chosen because you refuse the call. Most people will not except their calling. You decide where you fit in. How much are you willing to sacrifice and how far are you willing to go? Salvation is free but discipleship will cost you your life.

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There are thousands of “great” days in history but I believe that the greatest day of them all is the day that Christ was slain on the cross. The cross is, debatably, the most popular religious symbol and is symbolic all over the world. What is so ironic about the cross is that it that is a presented as a symbol of hope when, in actuality, it was an instrument of death. The cross is where God’s judgment and His mercy meets. He hung because of what we did, because of our transgressions. Three things happened at the cross that completely changed history. First, it became the ultimate place of forgiveness. He paid the ransom for all of our sins. Second, it became a place of reconciliation and restoration with Christ. Before his death, we were separated from Christ. We were not allowed to just go to him with our problems. When Christ died on the cross, the veil that separated us from our God was torn in half. Finally, it became a place of inner-fulfillment through self-denial. Jesus says that the cross is suffering. If you are going to listen to Christ, you are going to suffer. Things are not always going to be good. We must constantly remember the power of the cross and how “great” of a day it was in history.