YET A GREAT WAY OFF -- Monday:
"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." (Lk 15:20)
What is commonly called "The parable of the prodigal son" is rich with Kingdom insights. It opens to us the response of the Jews and Gentiles to the Lord: the Jews represented by the older brother, and the Gentiles by the younger. It also unveils the corruption of human nature that would deplete resources supplied by God Himself on vain and wild living (or prodigal living). The elder brother provides us with an example of thinking under the Law, that approaches service to God as a duty, and lacks initiative to obtain the blessing. We also see how the Lord can reduce a person's life to destitution through famine, and how far a person can sink -- even to the point of wanting to eat swine's food.
As we view the younger son coming to his senses, we also see the strength of the human will, that can resolve to return to God, even while sitting in a pig pen. We also behold the effect of sound reasoning, as the son thought about the condition of the least significant in his father's house.
Few declarations affirm the willingness of God to receive those who have wandered from Him as this powerful parable. This word of Jesus has stimulated many a soul to come back to the Lord from Whom they had wandered. Let us behold something of its rich beauty.
Notice the willingness of the father to distribute his goods before the due time. Upon the request of the younger son, the father divided unto "THEM" – BOTH SONS – "his wealth." He gave them "his wealth," not a savings account they had accrued for themselves. Perhaps they would have received more if they were willing to wait.
Having squandered everything he had on indulgent and selfish living, and under dire and oppressing circumstances, the younger son finally "came to himself." He saw how foolish he had been. Yet, he was in a "far country," working for a "citizen of that country," feeding "swine," and in the midst of a "mighty famine." He reasoned, "How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!" He determined to return to his father's house and ask to be a mere servant. He considered himself no longer worthy to be his father's son. How foolish he had been! He had "wasted" his goods on riotous, or prodigal, living! The word "prodigal" means recklessly extravagant, and wasteful expenditure.
As the son began to draw close to his father's house, a sudden turn of events occurred. Jesus said his father saw him when he was "yet a great way off." He must have been watching for him, keeping a faithful vigil. The son did not run to the father, but the father ran to him, "fell on his neck, and kissed him." Like God the Father, he had been waiting that he might "be gracious" (Isa 30:18).
It is God's manner to run to meet those who are coming to Him. He will extend Himself to encourage them and confirm His love for them. Many a soul, not knowing this, is hesitant to return to the Lord after having wandered from Him. They do not see the largeness of His heart, and the greatness of His grace.
That is one of the great objectives of the Gospel of Christ – to show the willingness of God to receive those who come to Him through the Son. There is no swine's pen that cannot be left for the love of our Father! Furthermore, the matchless grace of God will attend any real return to the Lord, strengthening and encouraging the returning one to make the trip all the way home.
Anyone who chooses to return to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, will find a gracious Father ready to receive, and extending Himself to confirm His love.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank and praise You for making a way to return to You.