Billy Graham - The Young and Rebellious
In Luke 15 Jesus tells three parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son—to show how deeply God loves lost sinners and how heaven explodes with joy when even one repents and comes home. The preacher lingers on the story of the loving father who never stops waiting, reminding us that no matter how far we’ve run, God is ready to run to us, forgive us, and restore us fully. The heart of the message is that true satisfaction, purpose, and eternal life are found only by turning from sin and surrendering to Christ.
The Three Parables of Luke 15
Tonight I invite you to turn with me to the fifteenth chapter of Luke’s Gospel. Jesus tells three stories. First, the story of a lost sheep. A man had a hundred sheep, and one of them got lost. The sheep was lost through its own foolishness, and Jesus indicates that we are that one lost sheep because the shepherd goes after it. Jesus said this was the reason He went to the cross: God sent Him to seek and save us, that we might have forgiveness of sins, eternal life, the assurance of heaven, and fulfillment, purpose, and meaning in this life.
The Lost Sheep and God’s Pursuit
You are that one lost sheep. Then comes the second story, about a lost coin. A woman had ten coins and lost one—not unusual, since many of us lose things. But she lost it through carelessness, and Jesus teaches that many people are careless about their spiritual condition and risk losing their soul. Those coins were part of her dowry; when she had ten, she could marry and wear them as a headpiece. Losing one was serious.
She lit a lamp, swept the house, searched under the bed, swept the courtyard outside—tears streaming down her face because it might delay her marriage years. Finally she found it, called her friends and neighbors, and they all rejoiced together.
The Lost Son and Heaven’s Joy
Then Jesus tells the third story—the lost son, or better, the loving father. Here He teaches about repentance, turning from sin, changing our lives, and the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. When the sheep was found, there was rejoicing. When the coin was found, rejoicing. When the son came home, a great feast and celebration. Jesus says that is what happens in heaven when one person repents and comes to Christ.
The Story of the Prodigal Son
But it is the story of the lost son I want to dwell on tonight. There was a sixteen-year-old boy in London, written about in the papers, who ran away from Glasgow to London seeking the bright lights. That is one of the great problems in America today—runaway young people. In Luke 15, beginning at verse 11, we have the story of a runaway son. It is a picture of God loving and searching, a picture of a person far from God—one of the tenderest stories in the Bible. Instead of calling it the prodigal son, we could call it the story of the loving father.
This father had a farm filled with love, discipline, and faith in God. Yet the younger son was dissatisfied. He went to his father and said, “Father, I want my share of the estate now. I’m old enough to leave home and see the world—Seattle, Chicago, New York, Miami, Honolulu, anywhere but here.”
The Son’s Rebellion
By Jewish law the younger son would receive one-third of the estate upon the father’s death. The father could have refused, but he did not argue. He knew his son had the right to choose. He warned him gently: “Son, I don’t think you’ll find what you’re looking for in the big city, the bright lights, and the good times.” Yet the son insisted. Young people today often want instant solutions—thinking a change of place, escaping parents, or new surroundings will bring satisfaction.
We are restless. We are dissatisfied with how we look, where we live, our education, our inner selves. Something is missing, and we don’t know what. A university girl cried endlessly until she finally told her father, “I want something, and I don’t know what it is.” Most people are searching for something they cannot name.
The God-Shaped Void
Why? Because you were made in the image of God, for fellowship with Him. Your body houses a soul and spirit created for God, but sin has broken that fellowship. Inside you are crying out for something. You think drugs, sex, success, money, or power will fill it—but they don’t. You end up empty, still searching. You are actually searching for God without knowing it. You will never find total satisfaction, peace, purpose, or meaning until you surrender your life to Christ.
The Rolling Stones sang, “I can’t get no satisfaction”—and thousands feel the same. Sin brings pleasure for a season, but not lasting joy. Many watching tonight lack purpose and meaning yet hunger for it.
The Far Country and Its Consequences
This young son, in rebellion, headed for a distant city. Many run to the West Coast, Hawaii, or Alaska thinking they will find what they seek—but they don’t. At first he did. He escaped rural boredom for city excitement. The Bible says he wasted his inheritance on riotous living. With money he had friends, beautiful girls, fine cars—the toast of the crowd.
But then recession came. He gambled, drank, spent on women and friends. Soon the money was gone—and so were the friends. He went from door to door seeking work, but jobs were scarce. Finally he found one: feeding pigs on a farm owned by a former acquaintance.
The Day of Reckoning
The day of reckoning always comes. He had rebelled against father, family, and God. Now he began to be in want. When a person leaves God, troubles begin—sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. No money, no home, no friends, no job. Nothing in this world can satisfy a soul created for eternity. Yet for those who know the Lord, David said, “I shall not want.”
His body was in want—craving alcohol or drugs. Alcoholism is a major killer; drunk driving takes thousands of lives yearly. His mind was in want. Sin clouds thinking; Satan blinds the mind (2 Corinthians 4:4). We cannot think our way to Christ intellectually—the Holy Spirit must break through.
The Soul’s Deep Hunger
His spirit was in want—restless, empty, alienated from God. The human soul is so vast the whole world cannot fill it. “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Your individual soul is worth more than all the gold and oil on earth. God loves you personally, no matter your sins or failures. He sent His Son to die in your place.
He became a slave feeding pigs—what are you trying to fill your soul with? Money, fame, sex, endless study? Some stay students for decades to escape responsibility. He had traded his father’s loving discipline for a stranger’s slavery. You cannot be neutral—you are either serving God or enslaved to Satan.
Coming to Himself
Jesus said no one can serve two masters. You must choose. The broad road leads to destruction; the narrow gate to life. Following Christ fully is not easy—it is costly. But it is the greatest challenge, rewarding a million times in this life and the next.
This young man, sitting among the pigs, eating their food, looking and acting like them, reached bottom. He even considered suicide. But then he came to himself. Tonight the Holy Spirit may be bringing you to yourself. He said, “I have sinned against heaven and against my father. The hired servants at home have more than I do now. I will arise and go to my father.”
The Father’s Waiting Love
What had the father been doing? Loving his son still. Every evening he sat on the porch watching the road, praying, hoping. After years, when others had given up, the father never stopped. One evening he saw a figure far off—rags, stumbling. It walked like his son. He ran, threw his arms around him, kissed him. The son began his prepared speech: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son…” But the father interrupted with joy.
He ordered the best robe, a ring, sandals, and the fatted calf. “My son was dead and is alive; was lost and is found!” They celebrated. That is God’s heart toward you tonight—waiting, loving, ready to run to you.
The Older Brother’s Attitude
But there was an older brother, working in the field. Hearing music and dancing, he asked what was happening. “Your brother has come home!” He was angry, refused to join. “I’ve served you all these years, and you never gave me a party. Yet for this son who wasted everything…” The father pleaded, “Son, you are always with me, and all I have is yours. But we had to rejoice—your brother was lost and is found.”
There were two lost sons—one outside the home, one inside. You can be in church yet harbor resentment or self-righteousness and still be far from the Father’s heart.
An Invitation to Come Home
Tonight God calls you home. Angels are ready to rejoice. Jesus calls softly and tenderly, “Come home.” Return to the Lord, and He will abundantly pardon. He will give you purpose, help in temptation, assurance of heaven, and forgiveness of all sin.
If you are watching by television and want to make this commitment, pick up the phone and call the number on your screen: 877-772-4559. Someone is waiting to talk with you. If the line is busy, keep trying.
Here tonight, I’m going to ask you to get up and come stand in front of this platform, saying, “I want Christ. I want forgiveness. I want to come home.” Hundreds of you—quickly, while we wait. Friends, couples, sweethearts—come together. Make your commitment now, and be sure to go to church next Sunday.