Luke 15:11-24 Then He said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 The younger of them [inappropriately] said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that falls to me.’ So he divided the estate between them. 13 A few days later, the younger son gathered together everything [that he had] and traveled to a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and immoral living. 14 Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to do without and be in need. 15 So he went and forced himself on one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to [a]feed pigs. 16 He would have gladly eaten the [carob] pods that the pigs were eating [but they could not satisfy his hunger], and no one was giving anything to him. 17 But when he [finally] came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough food, while I am dying here of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] treat me like one of your hired men.”’ 20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe [for the guest of honor] and put it on him; and give him a [b]ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let us [invite everyone and] feast and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So they began to celebrate.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a beautiful and touching portrayal of our Heavenly Father’s love for us.
The Prodigal set out for that distant country where he was sure he would find the happiness and excitement that he longed for. He partied it up in grand style for a time. But, in that distant country, when his resources ran out, so did his friends.
The once prominent son of a wealthy farmer found himself reduced to feeding pigs, forgotten and loved by no one (or so he thought). But one day in the pig sty, he took a good look at himself and what he had become. His pricey garments, torn and dirty, sagged from his emaciated frame like grave clothes draped over a skeleton – his hair, disheveled and matted.
Right then, right there, right in the middle of that putrid pig sty he came to his senses and realized he had an option. The faraway land with all of its enticements had left him destitute with a heart full of emptiness, but he still had a father back home who maybe, just maybe would have enough compassion on him to take him back as a hired servant. That shred of hope was enough to keep him putting one foot in front of the other, day by day, on that long journey back home.
But little did he realize, back home his father had been watching and longing for his return. He squinted in the morning sun on his way to work in the fields trying to catch a glimpse of his son’s silhouette in the distance; when the day was done, he sat on the porch still straining his eyes to see some sign of his long lost son. How do I know this? Because Luke 15:20 says, “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him.” He had to be looking intently to see him coming long before he arrived. His father was watching for him, hoping! And this must have been his daily ritual – or how else would he have seen him the very moment he topped the horizon?
And then, his father did something the son could never have anticipated. He ran to him, embraced and kissed him. And as the son tried to explain himself, the father all but ignored what he was saying. He was too busy lavishing love on him to care about the reasons; his only concern was that his wayward son was finally home. His love for his precious child overruled the wrong he had done. What was all this nonsensical chit-chat about being a hired hand…his beloved son was finally home!
“Bring on the best robe; put the ring (symbolic of son ship) on his finger; kill the fattened calf”… The father had long awaited this day, it was time for a celebration.
We often wander away from home and far from our Father. Sometimes, it is pure unadulterated rebellion on our part.
We all unintentionally drift away at times simply because we live in a world of countless distractions. I’ve heard this ‘constant pull’ described as an ocean tide – if we are not consistently rowing ‘toward’ God, the world’s currents are continuously pulling us in the opposite direction. When we fail to row (through prayer and spending time with Him) a natural drift occurs.
But it is a very serious offense to ‘make up our minds and go’ – this is what the Prodigal son did. I also did this once when I was young and let me say, it is a very scary place to be. Once we know and have tasted the goodness of God and we intentionally walk away (Hebrews 6:4-6), I personally believe we are on shaky ground indeed.
However, the point that I want to make is that God doesn’t stop loving us because we walk away (even in pure, unadulterated rebellion). And when the Prodigal returned feeling condemned and unworthy, his father welcomed him back as his son – not a servant. He did not lose his standing nor his place in his father’s heart. He loved him just as much as the day he walked away.
Our Father loves us in that same way. If you have journeyed into a far country, God is not mad at you, no matter what you have done. He’s waiting and longing for your return. He’s watching every moment and when He sees your heart turning back to Him, He will come running to welcome you with open arms.
Notice that when the Prodigal had something to offer, he had plenty of friends, but when he was down on his luck, the world ran out on him. He was starving to death and no one gave him anything to eat. Where were all the people he had partied with? No one had mercy on him…no one cared for his soul.
Most of us will never be in a situation like that, but people do disappoint us at times and sometimes we feel (whether it’s true or not) that no one cares for our soul. Even David, the most famous king of Israel felt that way (Psalm 142:4). He looked to his left and he looked to his right and then determined that no one truly cared for his soul.
Feelings are fickle, but even if that ‘were’ true… and we have looked to the left and looked to the right and it seems that no one really cares. We can always look up and know that there is One who loves us unconditionally and will never leave us alone, lonely or forgotten. He will never run out on us, no matter how far we run from Him.
When others run out, like the Prodigal’s friends did, our Father runs to us – to pick us up, to lavish His love upon us and to restore our weary souls. When you grow tired of journeying in this world searching for happiness and contentment in all it has to give, come back home, your Father is waiting for you.
Sometimes, we must experience for ourselves all the emptiness the world has to offer before we are finally ready to realize that we have everything our heart truly longs for in Him. With each step toward that far country, our emptiness increases. Turn around my friend, God is waiting, watching, and wanting to welcome you back home – His desire is not to criticize but to celebrate you!
Copyright © 2017 (Sandra Briggs). All rights reserved.
