go. He
spent his funds in riotous living, and as a consequence was reduced to
want and suffering, his punishment for his sin. To thus waste his
funds was sin, _He punished himself_ by his own conduct. His
sufferings became so intense and severe that he resolved to abandon his
present surroundings and return home at any cost, even to becoming a
menial servant in his father's house. Here we get a clear view of the
_purpose_ of punishment, not as vindictive, but remedial and
corrective. The young man suffered until his sufferings accomplished
their end in correcting and changing his life. As soon as this was
done his punishment ended. Just so with all punishment for sin. It
will continue until its remedial and corrective purpose is completed
and no longer, whether in this life or some other. When the young man
returned home his father received him, not as a servant, but a son.
But remember, _his wasted fortune was not restored_. "Was he not
freely forgiven?" Yes; but forgiveness does not blot out nor restore
the past; nor absolve one from the natural consequences of his own acts
already committed. It simply means a new opportunity and a new start,
but with the handicap of the consequences of the past life. The
returned prodigal was forgiven. He had the opportunity to begin life
anew as a son, just as he was before. But his material resources
represented in his squandered fortune, and the time he lost while
squandering it, were lost forever! Be as diligent and frugal as he
might, he could never, thru time or eternity, reach that attainment
_which he might have reached_, had he used the same diligence and
frugality from the start, in the use of his natural inheritance as his
operating capital.

Hence, one sins, not against God, but most of all _against himself_, by
violating the law of his own being, and of humanity. And the
_consequences_ of sins committed can never be escaped, in this world or
any other. If this kind of gospel had been preached to humanity during
all these past centuries of Christianity,--instead of a gospel that
teaches that no matter how vile, wicked and sinful one may be, nor how
long he may thus live in sin, if, in the last hour of life he will only
"believe in Jesus," at death he will go sweeping thru the gates of
heaven into eternal glory on a complete equality with the noblest
saints and purest characters that ever lived on earth,--this world
would now be much better than it is.