The Mighty Cedar 

Most know the story of the prodigal son. I would like to look at the story from a different perspective. 

Luke 15:11-20 KJV 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 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. 13 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. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 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! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 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.

While the story is supposed to reflect our relationship with God, He being the Father in the story. It can also be applied to us as well. That is the angle that I would like to look at. Imagine this with me. What if when the prodigal returned that the father had gone? What if he sold everything and just gave up? What would have happened to the prodigal had he returned and no one was there? What would have happened to the other brother and the servants? If the prodigal leaving affected the father in such a way that he just walked away, how different this story would have ended. 

You may not be a father, but you may be someone’s connection to the kingdom. You may have a prodigal that is family or a friend. You may have been praying for them for a long time to return. You may have even grown weary in the waiting. You must hold on though. 

In the book of Zechariah it says this: Wail, fir tree, for the cedar has fallen, because the stately ones are destroyed… (Zechariah 11:2 NHEB). This is where the phrase comes, “As goes the mighty cedar so go the little fir trees.” When a large tree falls it typically will take out the smaller trees and growth around it. A large tree falling changes the landscape. The large tree may have provided much needed shade. It may have provided shelter from storms to animals. 

You may be that tree to someone. You may be the symbol of strength for someone that keeps them holding on. Your prayers may be the prayers that bring someone back. Your face may be the face that some prodigal is looking for when they return. You don’t know the damage that may be done if you quit. You don’t know who you may take out if you fall. Don’t you sit there and think you’re not that important, yes you are. There is not one person that is unimportant in the kingdom. There are people that you affect that no one else can. So lift up your head, stand strong.  

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10 KJV). And when you’ve done all to stand, stand. Keep standing, keep living for God, keep going to church, keep praying, and keep looking for the prodigals. 

Galatians 6:9 KJV And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

1 Timothy 4:16 NHEB Pay attention to yourself, and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.