The Lost Child

Luke 15:11-12, “And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.”
Jesus taught using stories about real people doing real life things. Take the story we call the prodigal son. It is a story that has many lessons. Today let us peak into this story and look at just one of those lessons.
The younger of two sons decided he wanted more out of life than just hanging around his father’s house following rules that he felt restricted his pleasures. So he asks for his share of the inheritance and took off to see the world. We now see this young man setting in an empty room staring at an empty wallet. He is alone because the friends his money bought all left when the money ran out. I’ll just go get a job he thought that will help. So he gets up and soon discovers the economy is real bad due to a famine in the country. The only job he can get is feeding pigs; a very low wage job at best and one that didn’t even give him enough to eat on. “You know,” he thought “the servants at home all have plenty to eat and I am starving. I will go to dad and tell him I am sorry and ask for a job in his fields. At least then I can eat.” So he gets up and heads back home.
Back at home there is a much different picture. Dad gets up every morning and stares down an empty road straining his eyes in hopes he will see his son coming home. Day after day he looks but no son does he see. He breathes a prayer and goes about the business of the day. He wonders if his son is ok if he is well if he is eating and is warm. He thinks all the parenting things a father thinks about when a child leaves home.
This morning dad goes about his usual routine but something is different off in the distance slowing walking down the road he recognizes his son. Excitement fills his heart junior is coming home. The business of this day will have to wait. He can’t wait he runs to meet his son. With open arms he hugs him for he now knows his son is ok. Yes he is a bit dirty, very hungry and is trying to recite a well planned speech. “Dad I’m real sorry I blew it I have sinned against you and God and all I need is a job in the field.” “Nonsense, you are my son and you are home.” Calling all the staff dad shouts, “Get this boy some clean clothes, break out the fine china, get a fire started and start cooking the fatted calf we are going to have a party. My son has come home.”
Notice the father was not concerned about what his son had been doing. Did not care that his son was dirty and broke or that he had wasted all the money he was given. All he cared about was that once his son was lost but now was found. That’s forgiveness at its best.
God is like that. No matter what you have done, no matter where you have come from when you turn and ask God to forgive you, asks Jesus to come into your heart God shouts for joy and all heaven starts to sing. A lost soul is found and one of God’s creations is home. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Let the party begin!