The Bible tells the story of the prodigal son - a young man who seemed to have it all: a father who loved him, a roof over his head, and everything he might need to live a stable life. But there came a time when this young man grew tired of the life he was living. He was bored of seeing the same faces and doing the same things everyday. He decided it was time to explore. He asked his father for his share of the inheritance and he set out in search of his purpose - he wanted to find out why he was alive.
As soon as the prodigal son left home, he started down an unknown path, which eventually led him to a very distant land. Although the gardens there were full of roses, behind its walls lay only misery, sickness and pain.
John spoke of three illusions that mislead many in 1 John 2:16:
:the lust of the flesh
:the lust of the eyes,
and
:the pride of life
These can be compared to deserts disguised as oases; they present a false reality, advertising the pleasures of the world as something that can satisfy us in life. However, in the end they result in an unfulfilled life, without hopes and dreams. John explains that these are trademarks of the world and that they do not come from God the Father.
What had at first appeared to be gardebn of roses turned out to be a squalid pig-sty ? Solomon said:
"There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." ( Proverbs 14:12)
Have I been walking down the wrong path?
Today, we have a new opportunity to re-examine our life and be honest with ourselves . Although the produgal son ended up in deep distress, a light dawned in his thinking. That was when he could clearly see opportunities in the spiritual realm that would not only restore his life, but also recover all that he had lost.
It's okay to make mistakes, it's normal but we should always learn from it to better. We should always value the seconds chances given to us.