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 men 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 men.' 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.
The Father represent God and the Son represent us.
It all started with a path of rebellion (verse 11-13). When the son tells the father to give him a share of the property, it is the same as saying, ' Dad, I want you to die. So I could inherit your estate. ' It means that we choose to live as if God is dead. If we wants to do things in life in our own way, it will surely break God's heart. The father agree to the son and gave him his property is because he love the son, that's why he give us a choice. Only true love like this cannot be force. God is good! He will always tell us that We can always choose to go home.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
God is not imprisoning us and forcing us; God is patient enough to not to give up on us. :)
Then, the point of return in verse 14-19. In those days, pigs are the ' untouchables ' of those days as they are dirty. And we can see that the son was really really helpless at that point of time. That's why he accept this job. In verse 18: It is a wake up call for the son. If your wake up call is not dramatic, it does not mean that it is not significant at all! To the son, it is significant as he remember his own father's love and kindness towards him.
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
How long can the son continue to live with this kind of life with the untouchables? The son realise that only life with the father is filled with fun, excitement and goals and only the father can fill up his own son's heart nicely. Nobody else can do that. So the son decide to make a U-turn back to his father.
Lastly, the path of Reunion in verse 20-24. The son says, ' I'm coming back to become your servant, not your son. ' This shows that the son wants to be good, but he do not expect anything good in return. It's the same for us, ' Hopefully the good deeds I've done to make up for my sin, God won't be so angry.
Verse 20: The father is waiting for him. And as soon as he saw his son, he ran and hugged him tightly. In the past, because of the long robes that most fathers wear, they would not run as this would dirty their clothes and they would trip over. At most, they can only walk fast. or they would only send their servants to fetch the sons. But in the parable, the father RAN. He ran so fast and hugged and kissed his son. This shows how much expectancy that the father have in his son. He expect his son to come back!
God is good. He never walk to us. He always run. And God always tell us that, ' Even if you're weary, i expect you to take a break only. But never ever leave this house of mine, because you're my child, and I love you. '
In conclusion: You can't earn God's love. God make us worthy by sending Christ to die for our sins so that we can go back to Him. God came for us. When I couldn't reach God, God came for me. God wants to give us grace. He want us to be his son, not his servant.
Are you weary? Run to God now. God is running towards you too.. :) With that, I would like to end this post with a song:
Lyrics: Almighty God, the great I am Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings Mighty conqueror, and the only time the only time I ever saw Him run
CHORUS: Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again” Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son do you know I still love you?” He caught me by surprise when God ran
The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart And I wondered then if things could ever be the same Then one night I remembered His love for me And down that dusty road ahead I could see It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run
And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again” Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son do you know I still love you?” He caught me by surprise as He brought me to my knees When God ran – I saw Him run to me
BRIDGE: I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away But now I know He’s been waiting for this day
I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again” Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again
He ran to me, He took me in His arms Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again” Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”, He called me Son He said, “Son do you know I still love you?” He ran to me and then I ran to Him When God ran
