All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but Yahweh has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. Isaiah 53:6
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10
The three parables of 'lost' things in Luke 15 identify three elements that each of us can find ourselves in. Like the lost sheep, we were astray - wandering to and fro. But God...
Like the lost coin, we were helpless - unable to do anything to find our way back. But God...
Like the lost son, we were rebellious - living recklessly in opposition to God's design. But God...
You can watch those two sermons (3/21 and 3/28) over at 704's youtube channel. But there's one thing that came up as I was 'percolating' that I think can speak to each of us - whether we're still astray, helpless and rebellious, or if we've been found and are now living our lives in worship of God, who sent His son to save us.
The parable of the lost son doesn't share that the son ever discusses his 'prodigal-ness' with his father (or his brother for that matter). He comes back and gives the general apology - 'I've sinned against heaven and against you' (Luke 15:21).
I wonder if the son was so embarrassed by his reckless living, so ashamed - he didn't have it in him to tell the father exactly how he had burned through his inheritance, or what he was doing specifically when he realized he should come home.
Sometimes the sin that we're enjoying (for the moment) is so deplorable, that when we come to our senses we have heaps of guilt, shame, embarrassment over the way we were living.
I remember years ago finding an aim chat that I had saved for some reason (AIM stands for AOL Instant Messenger, and before texting, it was the cool thing to have so you could chat with your friends - I had the best away messages, btw). I remember seeing it, wondering why I saved it, but then more so being generally confused at the words I had written. Then confusion turned into disgust. There was profanity, 'unwholesome talk' and more. As I read over the saved AIM chat, it was hard to believe I had written those things. I immediately deleted it, and then emptied the trash of the computer I had it on.
There's loads of application from the prodigal son story - but one that I didn't press into (wish I would have more so?) - is the motive for coming home, and the place the son was at when he knew he needed to come home.
The son's motive was that he was hungry. Maslow's hierarchy of needs lists 'food' as a foundational physiological need. Meaning if you come to Christ out of desperation for food, shelter, warmth - he'll come running. If you come to him because of failed employment or bankrupty (2nd level; safety) - he'll come running. If you come due to a broken relationship (3rd; love and belonging), humiliation (4th; esteem) or even the awareness that your life is unfulfilling (5th; self-actualization) - he. will. come. running.
The son's place was that he was feeding pigs, wishing he could eat the food the pigs were eating. For a hebrew man, this would have been wildly offensive - gross, but also religiously 'unclean' as pigs were never to be handled. I imagine down the road it would be a healthy exercise to share exactly what was going on - with a trained therapist no doubt - but just notice that the Father doesn't ask the son to recount where he was, what he was doing, how low he went, or even why he wanted to come home.
He. just. ran.
Best robe. Signet ring. Sandals. Fattened calf.
Wherever you are in your relationship with God, whatever view you have of God and expectation you hold in how He will respond to you coming to Him, let this parable break all the false-images you have. He is compassionate, in the fullest sense of the word. And He throws a party when you return.
In fact, all of heaven celebrates when you come back.
