e-votional
a message to encourage and uplift from College Heights Baptist Church
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
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11 And He said, “A man had two sons. 12 “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. 13 “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. 14 “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. 15 “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. 17 “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 18 ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”‘ 20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ 31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ “ – Luke 15:11-32 (NASB)
Some years ago, my wife and I went out for dinner by ourselves. We had two small children at the time and it was the first time in a while we had been out without them. My parents were gracious enough to watch them for the evening. I will never forget backing out of their driveway. My wife was already fretting about leaving her “babies.” My daughter stood on tippy-toed feet with her hands and face pressed against the living room glass of my parents’ front window. Tears streamed down her face. It was a heart-wrenching image.
I am sure that must have been the scene at the home of the prodigal home. Instead of a toddler-aged daughter, however, the tear-stained face was wrinkled and weathered. Every day, his tired eyes looked down the road longing to see his wayward son. Every day, he would gaze down the same path on which his youngest had walked away. He never quit looking. He never quit hoping.
Then, one day, the young man is seen slowly making his way home. He walks a little less quickly than he did when he left. Perhaps he was not as eager to come back as he was to get away. He is speaking to himself as he makes his way to the house, seemingly rehearsing a speech of some kind. The father sees him coming and runs to meet him. Did you notice in our text that the father spotted him while he was a “long way off?” The boy did not knock on the door. He didn’t even get to the porch. He was down the road a bit when the father saw him. In other words, the father had been looking for him. He had not been forgotten. The father still longed for the young man to be a part of his life. Thus, he waited and watched.
Not only do we see the father looking, but he also ran. He was eager to embrace his son again. Elderly men of that era never ran anywhere. It was not a proper thing to do. Proper or not, the father ran. He embraced. He kissed. He wept. His son was home. The young man begins his prepared statement, but the father wants none of that. He gives him all the things that a son should have – a robe, a ring, and sandals. He calls for a party, all the while not breaking his embrace of his son.
God is looking for us. Every hour of every day, He gazes down the road we wandered off on while we were seeking our own way. He is looking for us to come home. Perhaps you say that the damage is too great. The grievances are too many. The sins are too severe. You wonder if God would ever forgive you again. He will. He is “faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). All means everything. A few years ago, I purchased an extended warranty for our vehicle. It guaranteed “bumper to bumper” coverage up to 100,000 miles. The funny thing is, every time I try to use it, the item between the bumpers is not covered. My warranty company defines everything differently than God. When He says all, He means all. Nothing is too great for God to forgive.
God eagerly desires to restore His relationship with us. He waits patiently for our return. He keeps looking down that road, day in and day out. Our Heavenly Father waits for us to come home. Make a conscious decision to turn around and come back where you belong. He is waiting robe in hand. The barbecue is just waiting to be lit. The party is on hold waiting for you.
Pastor Darrell
