Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over
one sinner that repenteth.
In the parable of the prodigal son is presented the Lord's dealing with those who have once known the Father's love, but who have allowed the tempter to lead them captive at his will."
Christ's Object Lessons p. 81 E.G.W.
And 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 falleth to me.
And he divided unto them his living.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together,
and took his
journey into a far country,
and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
And when he had spent all,
there arose a mighty famine in that land;
and he
began to be in want.
"Whatever the appearance may be, every life centered in self is squandered. Whoever
attempts to live apart from God is wasting his substance. He is squandering the precious years, squandering
the powers of mind and heart and soul, and working to make himself bankrupt for
eternity."
Christ's Object lessons p.82 E.G.W.
And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country;
and he sent him
into his fields to feed swine.
And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat:
and no man gave unto him.
And when he came to himself, he said,
How many hired servants of my father's
have bread enough and to spare,
and I perish with hunger!
I will arise and go to my father,
and will say unto him, Father,
I have sinned
against heaven,
and before thee,
And am no more worthy to be called thy son:
make me as one of thy hired
servants.
"Do not listen to the enemy's suggestion to stay away from Christ until you
have made yourself better; until you are good enough to come to God. If you wait
until then, you will never come."Christ's Object Lessons p.84 E.G.W.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet 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 unto him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven,
and in thy
sight,
and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants,
Bring forth the best robe, and put it on
him;
and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, 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.
Luke 15:10-23