Luke 15:11-24 “And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
Text II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Within our text, we see a young man life totally changed; all because he experienced a new beginning. Misery was turned to merriment, falling short turned into full sufficiency, and sighing was replaced with singing. The fact that he received a new beginning is revealed by the fact that the word, “began” is used two times in our text; “and he began” (vs.14) and “And they began” (vs.24). The question for those that have realized that the thing most needed in their life is a new beginning is; “What needs to transpire in order to experience a new beginning?”
Within the story we are enlightened to at least four things that accompany a new beginning. The first thing that we notice is that there was a remorse, “he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” Many people never experience a new beginning because they have never become discontent with their present state. It was not until the Father’s company began to look better that the far country and that there was a desire for change. If you like your sin better than the Saviour, you will never experience a new beginning because you will never seek it!
The second thing to be noted is that there was a return, “And he arose, and came to his father.” Before it was possible to experience a new beginning it would require turning his back to the past! The thing to note is the fact that the return is marked by repentance, “Father, I have sinned.” The boy is acknowledging the fact that the reason he needed a new beginning is the fact that he was personally responsible for making a mess of the first.
While there is remorse, return, and repentance, there must be a reception, “his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Thank God for the Father that delights in receiving sinners; “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
If you have made a mess of your past opportunities; follow the example of this young man, look for a new beginning!