This message from Elder Ronnie Blair takes a fresh look at the familiar story of the prodigal son, shifting the focus from the son who wandered away to the love of the father who never stopped looking for him.

Preaching from Luke 15, Elder Blair reminds us that Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost. The prodigal son demanded his inheritance, left home, wasted everything, and eventually found himself in a place of desperation. But in the middle of the mess, he came to himself. He realized what he had left behind and made the decision to arise and go back to his father.

That picture of coming home carries a powerful message about salvation. Elder Blair shares from his own experience in 1973, when his life and home were in a desperate condition. He describes being drawn to the altar by the Holy Ghost, realizing he was lost and undone. Salvation does not come from rehearsing the right words or trying to work our way back to God. It comes through conviction, repentance, and faith in the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins.

The father in Luke 15 was watching and waiting. When he saw his son coming from a great distance, he ran to meet him. The father did not stand back and demand an explanation. He had compassion, embraced his son, and welcomed him home. He did not dwell on the past. Instead, he called for the best robe, a ring, and shoes, and commanded that the fatted calf be prepared for a celebration.

Elder Blair explains that the father’s actions reveal the heart of God toward a sinner who comes home. God’s grace is greater than our past, and when a sinner repents, there is joy in the presence of God. The church should rejoice when someone is saved rather than question whether they are worthy of God’s forgiveness.

The message also turns to the elder son, who remained at home but became angry when his brother returned. His resentment reveals another danger: self-righteousness and an unwillingness to rejoice when God changes someone else’s life. Elder Blair challenges believers not to look at someone’s past and decide that they could never be saved. God can save to the uttermost and do what people consider impossible.

Through stories from his ministry, including men who struggled with addiction and a man named Tom Horace whose salvation was questioned by others, Elder Blair shows that human opinions cannot cancel the work of God. When the Holy Spirit changes a life, the evidence will speak for itself.

The message also challenges God’s people to worship Him freely. We do not come to church to impress people. We come to worship the One who saved us. There should be joy when the lost are found and the prodigal comes home.

Elder Blair closes with a deeply personal testimony of God’s restoration in his own marriage and the faith of his wife during her final illness. Her willingness to trust God completely, whether He chose to heal her or call her home, became a lasting testimony of faith.

Whether you feel far from God, are carrying a burden, or simply need to be reminded of His love, this sermon points back to the same truth: God knows you, God loves you, and the Father is still calling people home.