WTM JOURNAL
by Yuri Solomon Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself... Yuri Solomon holds degrees from Gospel Ministry Outreach Theological Institute and the College of Biblical Studies. He is author of the book Biblical Masculinity. More info @ www.wordtalkonline.orgAnd when he came to himself
8/02/2007 / Devotionals
For the first time the prodigal son came to himself. In ambition he came to his father and asserted himself. In flamboyance he came to his friends and bankrupted himself. In desperation he came to his employer, and desecrated himself. Finally, in reality he came to himself, and observed himself.
While in his father's house he realized he was not like his father. Yet he did not know what he actually was like. He thought himself to be independent, capable, and wise. Awakened to himself among the swine he found that he was like the swine, he was a consumer, a glutton, a bottomless pit. This was reminiscent of the prophet Isaiah's view of himself as he exclaimed, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips" (Isa 6:5.) The prodigal came to himself and observed his own depravity. He came to himself and observed his own destitution. He came to himself and observed his own worthlessness.
Like the prodigal, it is man's propensity to think more highly of himself than he ought to. Each of us would arrogantly go on and on, never coming face to face with one's self, were our supply endless. God must take a man supply, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever (Gen 3:23.) We count ourselves as wise and capable, just lacking resources to show off our virtue, when the fact is we have never been formally introduced to self. "I'm not that bad," or "I just need a little help,"are the words of a man who has not come to himself. When God grants that a man come to himself, he will behold the beautiful benefits of servitude. He will see the abundant provision of the father. Finally he will become aware of his own pathetic condition.