We come to the beautiful parable of the Prodigal Son. David Brown in The Four Gospels writes, "This is the Gospel within the Gospel, as it has been well called; and it will stand, while the world lasts, an evidence which no unsophisticated mind can resist, that He who uttered it must have come forth from the very bosom of the Father to declare it, and that him that cometh to Him He will no wise cast out." (p. 292) God welcomes repentant sinners. If a man comes under conviction of sin and sees his own helplessness and then turns to God, he will not be disappointed. God welcomes the Prodigal to come back. There is always hope for the sinner. Yet, man has to realize his sin before he can know that hope. Today, our greatest need is conviction of sin. Only then will we be able to embrace true hope.