And rising, he came to his father. "Now, at his still being far away, his father perceived him and had compassion, and running, falls on his neck and fondly kisses him." Now the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. No longer am I worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired men.' Yet the father said to his slaves, 'Quick! Bring forth the first robe, and put it on him, and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. And bring the grain-fed calf, sacrifice it, and, eating, we may make merry, for this my son was dead and revives, he was lost and was found,' And they began to make merry.
Lukes Account 15: 18-21, Concordant New Testament
How many times have you felt like that prodigal son? Having been given everything from the Father, yet in your mind you failed Him, again. I've been there too. The Christian religious system is big on condemnation of those who fail the Lord. But the deck has been stacked against us from the beginning. From the start we have been deemed sinners {Paul to the Romans 3:23}. And so many believers spend a lifetime trying to adhere to the standards of the Father. If we fail, as we often do, we're often reminded of our failures and the consequences of having failed God once again. When I was still in the church, I was often too afraid to reveal those moments in my own life where I thought I had failed, because I knew the reaction that it would bring from my fellow Christians. I would be reminded that God obviously did not approve of my life and choices and was probably upset with me. I would be told that I was weak and not strong enough in the Lord. No, I had seen that movie far too many times and didn't want any part of it. So, I kept my failures to myself, despairing in how I thought the Lord would look upon me. One day I was reminded by a good friend of the story of the prodigal son. This kid had walked that same road I had in his life. Leaving home, he followed where the world led him. In my own life, I've had a similar path. But eventually, as always happens, I stumbled along the way. In my mind I knew that some of the things I had done went against the Lords desire for me, but I didn't want the condemnation that usually accompanied my confession of 'sin.' So, I suffered alone as the prodigal son had in that foreign land far away from home. Yet the son had a revelation one day, he would return to his father, apologize and seek his forgiveness. In his mind he had no idea of the love of his own father. His only thought was how disappointed he would be in the actions of his son. Yet as he returned home once again he received a unexpected surprise. For instead of the condemnation he had expected from his father, he received love. Indeed, the father rejoiced in his sons return! Not only that, we're told that when his son was "Still far away," that his father ran out to embrace him {Lukes Account 15:20}. Instead of condemnation, the son experienced redemption in the love of his father.
I am saying to you that thus there will be joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, more than over the ninety-nine just persons who have no need of repentance
Lukes Account 15: 7, Concordant New Testament
It's taken me a long time to realize that the love of the Father which the apostle John speaks of is not a love of condemnation {First Epistle of John 4:8}. It's also taken me a long time to realize that many of the things which I thought God was thinking about me simply were not true. In His love, He has never looked upon me as a sinner. In His love, He dispatched His only Son to become sin that I would be spared a life of condemnation {Paul to the Corinthians(2) 5:21}. This is the love of the Father on display. Despite what others have told me, God is not upset with me. When He looks upon me He does not see a life stained by the sin of the world, but His own likeness {Genesis 1:27}. This is how the Lord sees His children. I believe that Jesus spoke the parable of the prodigal son to illustrate to us the truth of the love of the Father. Not only that, but the truth of the love of Christ for us as well. For as we know, He and the Father are one {Johns Account 10:30}. It is also Jesus who reminds us that we live in union with He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}. In the Father there is no condemnation. There is also no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus {Paul to the Romans 8:1}. Our main issue comes when we refuse to believe in the truth of the Father. That it has never been His intent to condemn His children. That there will be joy in HEAVEN over one sinner who is redeemed {Lukes Account 15:7}. Many believers have a difficult time accepting the truth of universal salvation, that all will be saved. We want good to be rewarded and evil to be condemned. But what does God want? This is what I believe Jesus is telling us in the parable of the prodigal son. The Lords ultimate desire is that all be saved {Johns Account 3:16-17}. This is the good of the Father.
~Scott~
No comments:
Post a Comment