It all began with so much hope! The Pilgrims landed at what became known as “Plymouth Rock” in what was known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Fleeing religious persecution under the rule of King James, they wanted to establish a new Israel for God’s people. The “Mayflower Compact,” named after the ship they sailed to the New World on, was designed to make the settlers a covenant people with their God.

That was over 400 years ago and, oh, how things have changed. Not only have we broken covenant with a Holy God, but we now have people who flaunt their sins in the face of God. We have sacrificed over 60 million of our unborn children to the pagan god Molech. We celebrate debauchery and mock godly fidelity. We are a prodigal nation.

If you attend church or read the Bible, you probably know the story of the Prodigal Son. Let’s look at it with a different perspective. We need to understand the culture at the time Jesus told the story. The younger son went to his father and demanded his portion of the inheritance. Knowing the inheritance came when the father died, the son was literally telling his father, “I wish you were dead!”

For some reason, the father gave him his inheritance, and off he went to party and have “fun.” Well, like so many prodigals, the money ran out, his “friends” disappeared, and he was homeless. This homeless kid went and found a job (novel idea) feeding pigs at less than minimum wage.

As he fed the pigs, he looked at the food he was giving the pigs and said to himself, “That looks pretty good.” Remember, he was a Jew, and pigs were unclean animals. When you get to the place where pig food looks good, that’s the time to come to your senses, just like the Prodigal Son. But, consider this: If the father would have gone to his son and said, “Look, son, you’re a Jew and you’re wanting pig food. Come on home; your room’s still there,” he wouldn’t have gone home with dad. He had yet to come to his senses. He had not hit rock bottom yet!

It begs the question: When will we, as prodigals, come to our senses and return to our Heavenly Father’s house? When will we get fed up with the world’s pig food? Jesus summed it up when He spoke to the Apostle John in Revelation: “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first” (Rev. 2:4-5).

America, we need to return to our first love! Repentance is the first step. Turning away from our sins was the same instruction the Lord spoke to Solomon in II Chronicles 7:14. I personally believe it’s beginning to happen. People are starting to realize we have a government that is telling us what freedoms and liberties we will be allowed to enjoy.

We became a nation when our Declaration of Independence pointed out our rights came from God, not from man. Will we stand up to this tyranny? Or, as President Reagan told us, will we tell our children and grandchildren of a time when America was free?

Something to pray about!
Semper Fidelis