Awaiting The Prodigal

This blog post was first published on December 3, 2011. Republishing today with a little bit of editing and updating, because it is worth repeating. For any of you who might tend to question or argue with the facts and principles stated in these parables of Jesus, just try to remember: they are not tales, fables or traditions. These words were spoken on Earth by our Lord Jesus Christ. He knows whereof He speaks, He speaks with authority, and He supplies His own interpretation of what was spoken.

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“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.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:11-32 NASB

Here it is. My other favorite parable (The Sower was the first). So rich with spiritual meaning for all believers and for families who are awaiting the return of one who has gone astray. There are profound principles of doctrine here. There is unspeakable comfort in these words of our Lord.

The father represents God, of course. Both young men are sons of the father. Born-again believers (Galatians 3:26). The younger one was immature, selfish, impetuous, eager to see the world. Carnal minded. Stupid. We all know believers like that. They'll tell you in a New York minute that Jesus is their savior who paid the penalty for all their sins, and that they are depending only on Him for their eternal salvation. That's it. They are not interested in the demands and the responsibilities of full-time discipleship. Younger Brother demanded his share of the inheritance NOW. In his shallow thinking, he could not know what treasures he was walking away from when he took all his belongings and went to a "far country," symbolic of life out of fellowship with God. After a period of partying among the worldlings, he was destitute, of course. The world uses us and throws us away. No longer self-sustaining, he had to hire out as a pig herder. The lowest of the low. No respect, no friends, no food. Hunger, and I suspect loneliness, caused him to yearn for his father's house. The servants there fared much better than he was doing. What a concept!

"I will arise (KJV) and go to my father." The first wise decision Younger has made in a long while. I'll confess my sins to him. I'll admit my unworthiness to be his son. I'll offer to be a servant in his house, if he'll let me come back home.

Remember in the parables about the lost sheep and the lost coin, the shepherd and householder went diligently seeking the lost object, leaving everything else in a holding pattern. The lamb and the coin could do nothing about their lost condition. The one who cared had to actively save them from their oblivion. But the father of this wayward son didn't go out seeking him. He waited and watched. Day after day, he anticipated the return of his son. That's why he saw him "a long way off," and ran to him and welcomed him with open arms. Rejoicing! The son had left of his own volition, and he returned in the same manner. It was his choice to do so. Our father allows us that freedom. And he allows the consequences.

So, Younger started his well-rehearsed confession, "I have sinned." That was all the father needed to hear. I John 1:9. Acknowledge the sin. God forgives. The grovelling would not apply. There's no way to "make up" for the sin, and you are not a hired servant, you are a SON. You can never be anything but a son. Put on the robe, wear the signet ring, shoe your feet. We are killing the fatted calf for a feast. You were dead to me (corrupted by carnality; no spiritual perception), now you are alive! You were lost to me (out of fellowship; thinking like an unbeliever), now you are found!

Most folks are pretty critical of Elder Brother. He got in a snit over the festivities, because after all, Younger had deliberately wasted his substance with riotous living. "You never killed the fatted calf for me." The father had compassion for him, too, and explained patiently that just because he had always depended on Elder to be there and be responsible, that does not mean he took him for granted. We humans tend to think like that, though, don't we? "Well, I guess I just don't matter." The fact is, he at all times had access to everything the father owned. He was having a fit of jealousy and judgment of his brother. If it were up to Elder and me, brother would still be slopping with the hogs. That's why Elder and I are not God. Furthermore, the jealousy and anger being displayed by Elder were at least as sinful as anything Younger had done. Now he also has something to confess. And the father will forgive. And the fellowship will continue, just as it should be among the Royal Family of God.

Remember: it is not about the lasciviousness of Younger, or the self-righteousness of Elder. It is about the GRACE of the FATHER to both.

Yesterday, today, and forever.