“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him. Then his 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 slaves, ‘Hurry! 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 us eat and celebrate, because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again—he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.” —Luke 15:20–24
Mercy, compassion, and love always await those returning to our heavenly Father! In this story, the father searches the horizon for that tiny speck in the distance indicating the return of the lost son—and then he runs to him. I believe this is the only time in Scripture that we have an illustration of God running. How precious that it is towards the returning, wayward child. Indeed, he rose and ran to meet the returning rebel!
I am reminded of several verses in Scripture:
“For this reason the LORD is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the LORD is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed.” —Isaiah 30:18
“He sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit—O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.” —Psalm 51:17
“The LORD is compassionate and merciful; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love. He does not always accuse, and does not stay angry. He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve. For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers. As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on his faithful followers.” —Psalm 103:8–13
In our verses for today, lavish grace, along with loving forgiveness, mixed with pure joy is displayed by the father who anxiously waits to give his lost son a new life. Just like our heavenly Father waits to give us new life! Jesus tells us:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” —John 10:10
Our cause for joy always rests in our personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus, His Son. We are children of the King through our faith in Christ! Our names are written in heaven. We are His beloved and are His forever.
“From God’s perspective, one hidden act of repentance, one little gesture of selfless love, one moment of true forgiveness is all that is needed to bring God from His throne to run to His returning son and to fill the heavens with sounds of divine joy.” —Henri J. M. Nouwen
Throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus loved celebrations with feasting and laughter. In this parable we find the father throwing a huge party to celebrate the homecoming of his son. God is a gracious Host providing over-the-top hospitality. Nouwen adds:
“I realize that I am not used to the image of God throwing a big party. It seems to contradict the solemnity and seriousness I have always attached to God. But when I think about the ways in which Jesus describes God’s Kingdom, a joyful banquet is often at its center. Jesus says, ‘Many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.’”
I am reminded of the prophet Isaiah’s words:
“The LORD of Heaven’s Armies will hold a banquet for all the nations on this mountain. At this banquet there will be plenty of meat and aged wine—tender meat and choicest wine.” —Isaiah 25:6
I don’t believe heaven’s banquet will be a place for plain grilled chicken or butterless biscuits! I think it will be divine dining like we have never experienced dining before. Laughter and joy filling the banquet hall with our Host providing what we are unable to even conceive of as yet. We know not of what awaits us!
Become More
“Because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” —2 Corinthians 4:18
Further Reflection
“He who made man can restore man; He who was at first the Creator of our nature can new create it. If He be God, there can be no limit to His power. Come then with the blind eye of darkened understanding, come with the maimed hand of weak faith, the fever of an angry temper, or the ague of shivering despondency, come just as thou art, for He who is God can certainly restore thee of thy plague. None shall restrain the healing virtue which proceeds from Jesus our Lord.” —C.H. Spurgeon