In this message you will hear of two sons, two robbers, and a father and his son, each account revealing a different response to truth and grace. It reflects on how someone may live close to Christ in knowledge or position, yet remain distant in heart, while also setting before the hearer the mercy and forgiveness available through genuine repentance and faith in Him.
Bible Scriptures: Darby Translation
Luke 15:28-32 “And his father went out and besought him.29 But he answering said to his father, Behold, so many years I serve thee, and never have I transgressed a commandment of thine; and to me hast thou never given a kid that I might make merry with my friends:
30 but when this thy son, who has devoured thy substance with harlots, is come, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.31 But he said to him, Child, *thou* art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.32 But it was right to make merry and rejoice, because this thy brother was dead and has come to life again, and was lost and has been found.”
Luke 23:39-43 “39 Now one of the malefactors who had been hanged spoke insultingly to him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost *thou* too not fear God, thou that art under the same judgment?
41 and *we* indeed justly, for we receive the just recompense of what we have done; but this [man] has done nothing amiss.42 And he said to Jesus, Remember me, [Lord,] when thou comest in thy kingdom.43 And Jesus said to him, Verily I say to thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Daniel 5:17-22 “17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet will I read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.18 O thou king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty;19 and for the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he exalted, and whom he would he humbled.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit hardened unto presumption, he was deposed from the throne of his kingdom, and they took his glory from him;
21 and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the Most High God ruleth over the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.22 And thou, Belshazzar, his son, hast not humbled thy heart, although thou knewest all this;”