Why you don’t need to trample upon the love of the Father

D.L Moody, a preacher from the 1800s, was known for his powerful preaching and his simple illustrations.

I have no idea if the story is true, but he once told the story of a father and a “prodigal” son. Here’s what Moody said …

I once heard of a father who had a prodigal boy, and the boy had sent his mother down to the grave with a broken heart. One evening the boy started out as usual to spend the night in drinking and gambling, and his old father, as he was leaving, said, “My son, I want to ask a favor of you to-night. You have not spent an evening with me since your mother died. Now, won’t you gratify your old father by staying at home with him?” “No,” said the young man, “it is lonely here, and there is nothing to interest me, and I am going out.” And the old man prayed and wept, and at last said, “My boy, you are just killing me as you have killed your mother. These hairs are growing white, and you are sending me, too, to the grave.” Still the boy would not stay, and the old man said, “If you are determined to go to ruin, you must go over this old body tonight. I cannot resist you. You are stronger than I, but if you go out, you must go over this body.” And he laid himself down before the door …

It would take a lot of gall for the son to head toward the door.

But that is what the son did.

Moody finished the story by saying, “And he [the father] laid himself down before the door, and that son walked over the form of his father; trampled the love of his father under foot, and went out.”

While we may balk at the cruelty of the son, let us remember how we have often acted to our heavenly Father.

Has not God Almighty stood in front of us at the door of our sin and asked us to turn back and not trample His precious blood under foot? Yet, sadly, for too many of us, we have pushed past and indulged in our iniquity.

He promises that no matter the temptation there is always a way of escape—”No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

We can live in victory and triumph.

And if we find ourselves a “prodigal son,” then let us turn back and return to the embracing arms of our “prodigal father.” He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (see 2 Peter 1:3) … we therefore do not need to trample upon His life, love, and sacrifice.

Photo Credit: Jordan Andrews