Text: Luke 15:11-32
Introduction
How many sermons have you heard on the Prodigal Son? Some of them might have touched on the father in the story. Sometimes this is due to the preacher (and the hearer) not understanding or appreciating the person and character of God the Father, whom the father in the story is meant to represent.
The father's will
The parable tells us of the inheritance that the father had prepared for his two sons. The oldest son faithfully obeyed everything that his father said, while the younger lacked discipline and selfishly wanted to live for the day. “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” (Luke 15:12).
Because the father was fair, both sons received their inheritance before while he was still alive. From that moment they were expected to use what they had received wisely. Every person has free will, and we do not lose that free will when we come to Christ. The father did not force his sons to do anything, for both of them had the liberty to run off and waste all that they had. Both sons loved their father, but the youngest wanted to live a carefree and exciting life rather than spend his days in a boring job. He “took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living” (Luke 15:13). We see then that God pours His blessings on the unjust as well as the just. “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
The father’s love
The father loved both his sons equally, and the story teaches us that he loved the unfaithful son even while he was living a sinful life. God continues to love us despite the mess we make of our lives at times. The prodigal began his journey with the world at his feet, but ended up with the world in his heart. He ran away from his father because he wanted to indulge his flesh, but soon he would remember a very special fact, he knew that his father still loved him. He knew that if he returned home that his father would not reject him but lovingly receive him back.
The truly saved person, who backslides by returning to the world, will carry in his heart the promise that God still loves him and is calling him back home. There is that “something” in their heart that makes him remember God’s love and compassion. It will be this knowledge of God’s love that will draw them back when they come to their senses. “Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee” (Songs of Solomon 1:4).
The father’s house
As soon as sin had made a mess of his life, and it always does, we only have to look at the alcoholic and those on drugs to see this, the prodigal remembered the blessings of his father’s house. “And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger?” (Luke 15:16-17). Faithfully obeying his loving father did not seem to be boring to him now! His freedom led directly to the house of bondage, but love would carry him back to his father’s house.
The father’s grace
Here is the grace of God revealed. His son did not deserve a second chance. Why? He did not deserve what he received in the first place. Though he was his father’s son, he did not earn the inheritance or father’s love. Though he thought of working hard to get back into his father’s house, the notion immediately disappeared the moment he fell into his father’s arms. All that was necessary was for him to go back to where he went wrong.
Jesus tells us that the father was standing on the same road that his son left on. He watched and waited for his son’s return. He stands there to show that forgiveness and mercy are always available to the backslider. He does not stand there with a big whip and an angry face, but with a broken heart and fathomless love. It was this grace that restored the prodigal to his rightful place in his father’s house. “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry” (Luke 15:22-24) … “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).
The father wanted sons rather than servants. Therefore the backslider is still a child of God, but he must repent and return to the Heavenly Father to have a place with Him in His Kingdom. Repentance restores the backslider to full fellowship with God. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12).
Conclusion
Our Heavenly Father is true and faithful. He watches over all who belong to Him, even those who have drifted away. His love and mercy are always available and He never closes His door on someone who truly repents. “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
© 1/1/2009