YOU ARE NOT TOO FAR GONE
Bible Text: Luke 15:11–24 (NKJV)
- Then 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 falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.
- And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
- But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
- Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
- And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
- But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
- I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,
- and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
- And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still 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 to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
- But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.
- And bring the fatted calf here 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.
Today is the workers day, and it is my prayer that God will bless and reward all your good works and your service to humanity in Christ Jesus name.
John Newton was deeply involved in the slave trade, a life marked by cruelty, moral compromise, and spiritual emptiness. He was not merely struggling with sin—he was entrenched in it. His conscience had grown dull, and his life drifted far from God. By all appearances, he seemed completely lost, with no visible path back to redemption.
During one of his sea voyages, a violent storm arose that threatened to destroy the ship. As the waves crashed and fear gripped every soul on board, Newton came face to face with his mortality. In that desperate moment, he cried out to God for mercy. That cry was not rehearsed or religious—it was raw, broken, and sincere. Yet, that moment became the turning point of his life.
This reflects the words of Luke 15:17, “But when he came to himself…” The prodigal son did not change while enjoying the pleasures of the far country. It was in his lowest point—hungry, empty, and broken—that clarity came. Newton’s storm became his moment of awakening. Sometimes, God allows us to reach the end of ourselves so we can discover the depth of His mercy.
Newton did not become a different man overnight, but the direction of his life changed. He began a journey back to God, just as the prodigal son arose and returned to his father. What stands out in Luke 15 is not just the son’s return, but the father’s response. Verse 20 reveals that the father saw him from afar and ran toward him. This shows that restoration begins the moment you turn, not when you become perfect.
Over time, Newton abandoned the slave trade, surrendered fully to Christ, and became a minister. The same man who once contributed to human suffering became a voice proclaiming grace. His hymn “Amazing Grace” was not just a song—it was his story. Like the prodigal son in verses 22–24, he was not merely forgiven; he was restored.
The father did not reduce the son to a servant; he restored him as a son, giving him a robe, a ring, and a celebration. This is the nature of God’s mercy—it restores identity. Many people think that when they come to God after a long straying, they cannot amount to anything again as the prodigal son said to his that he is unworthy to be called his son. As humble as that sounds, it can be very deceptive. But contrary to their deceptive thought, divine mercy brings full restoration.
No matter how far you have gone, there is still a way back. The distance may feel great, but God’s mercy is greater. The same God who restored the prodigal son and transformed John Newton is still reaching out today. Your story is not over. Now rise wherever and however you are and go to your Father God, He is longing to see you and welcome you into His loving arms.
Food for Thought
If God could transform a man deeply rooted in darkness into a vessel of grace at the worst stage of his life, could it be that the place you feel most lost is actually where God is waiting to meet you—and begin your restoration?
Prayer Points
- Father, thank You because Your mercy reaches me no matter how far I have gone.
- Lord, I return to You today—restore me completely.
- Remove every guilt and shame that holds me back.
- Restore my identity and purpose in Christ.
- Let my life become a testimony of Your redeeming grace.
- Father, please bless all our labour and reward all good works in your vineyard and for humanity.
