This may come across as a rambling, but it is rather late at night after a long day at work. I was just thinking about God's forgiveness. It is complete and permanent and can always be counted on if you are truly sorry and seek it from Him earnestly. Of this I have no doubt. I also understand that if you commit a sin that breaks a law here on earth, even though God has forgiven you, there will still likely be an earthly toll to pay. If I knock off a 7-11 and a week later I become a Christian and ask God to forgive all my sins, he will forgive all including the robbery.But when I go into the police station to confess, I am still going to do time. Render unto Caesar... It may be a shorter sentence because I confessed or shortened later due to good behavior, but I am still going to do time.I am assuming that also applies to life's other choices. You spend your life doing what you like instead of getting an education and job skills, sinning left and right with almost every decision. Knowing God is there but only approaching him once the bottom has falllen out in your life. Then you come to Christ. He will of course forgive every one of your sins, and if you continue to follow him earnestly, he will provide for your needs.But you are still going to be behind the eight ball for the years you spend doing everything but what God wanted. Low wage job, minimal benefits, limited upward mobility, same trailer park or apartment, etc. etc. etc. That seems to make perfect sense. God will provide for you and if you focus on what His calling in on your life, he will gradually lift you.....But then I think about the parable of the Prodigal Son. He demanded his inheritance, intentionally went against his father's wishes, and departed to indulge himself to the fullest. Only after he had spent every...shekel?...and was reduced to lusting after the corn husks that he had to feed to the pigs did he realize that even his father's servants were better off than he was right now. He decided to go to his father, acknowledge that due to his decisions his father owed him nothing, and beg for a position as a servant in his father's house.When he returned his father hugged him, had them put on him a fine robe and a ring on his finger, and restored him to his place in the family. It was like he never left.The son repented and did not have to pay a worldly toll for the things he did. Was it because he sought forgiveness EXPECTING AND WILLING to pay the price for his sins by living as a servant in the home of his birth?I seen Christians who had it all (according to the world's standard), but then they let their worldly life and possessions gradually rule them. When the bottom fell out and they came back to Christ just as fully and sincerely (at least it appears to me) none of them were returned to the positions/stature they held before.What made the Prodigal Son different? His sincerity? His true level of repentance? His willingness to accept let just to be welcomed back? What makes these situations different?Thoughts?