Come Home...
Luke 15:11-32
Life is full of choices. Some of those decisions lead us closer to God, while others take us further away. In our lesson today we have one of the most powerful illustrations of God’s love and grace. It’s a story, a parable, about two sons... one wayward, one steadfast... and a compassionate father... offering the opportunity for to come home.
Of course, as the parable of Jesus goes: The younger son demanded his inheritance early—a bold and disrespectful move, to say the least. He wanted the blessings of the father without a relationship with him. Makes we wonder how often do we do the same? We seek God’s gifts (his blessings) but neglect His presence.
R. C. Sproul, one of my favorite reformed theologians, says, “man’s sin is precisely this: He wants the benefits of God without God Himself.”
The son wasted everything he received in reckless living, and when a famine hit, he found himself in desperation—feeding pigs, an unthinkable situation for a Jewish man. Sin always promises freedom but leads to bondage. The further we drift from God, the emptier our souls become. Even the very best and strongest Christ Followers we know, have sought satisfaction apart from God, and his perfect will for our lives.
We’re told, the son, this prodigal... at the lowest point of his life, “came to himself.” He realized that even his father’s servants lived better than he did. Humility brought clarity.
The Prodigal’s decision to return home, to return to his father, wasn’t just about better circumstances—it was about a restored relationships. He rehearsed his confession over and over: “Father, I have sinned…” But... true repentance is never just regret; it’s a literal turning back to God.
Of course, this is where the story takes a beautiful turn. The father did not wait for his son to arrive—he ran to meet him! In that culture, it was undignified for an older man to run, but love overrides dignity. The father embraced his son, kissed him, and restored him.
The son was ready to beg, but the father was even MORE ready to bless. Instead of shame, this wayward son received a robe. Instead of punishment, a party. Grace is never earned—it is freely given.
Have you truly accepted God’s grace, or are we still trying to “earn” his favor and forgiveness? Do we actually believe and accept the fact that God, our Father, is always ready to welcome us with open arms when we “come to our senses”?
If the story ended here, it would be enough. Point made. But it doesn’t. There’s more...
While the younger son was lost in rebellion, the older son was lost in self-righteousness; both equal in their distance from the father. The Older Son resented the father’s grace, believing he had earned favor through his work, and steadfastness alone. Yet, the fact is... he too failed to understand the father’s heart.
It reminds us, that it’s actually possible to be in the Father’s house and not share in his grace. That’s a gentle warning to those of us who’ve “lived the faith” our whole lives, isn’t it?
The older son focused on fairness, but the father focused on family. The greatest danger of religion is when we value rules over relationships.
Our obedience must be motivated by love, or our duty is in vain. What I’m trying to say is expressed in 1st Corinthians 13:1-3, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
This parable is ultimately about the love of the Father. The Faithful, Loving, Forgiving Father. Whether you & I identify with more with the younger son (who ran away) or the older son (who never truly understood grace), the invitation is the same: Come home.
God is not waiting to condemn you—He is running to embrace you. No matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, God’s compassion is greater than our duty... God’s mercy is greater than our feelings... His love is greater than our failure.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20, NIV)
Come home. The Father is faithfully waiting. Amen.
Kommentare