One son is awestruck, overwhelmed, and possessed by his father’s love. Perhaps various temptations attempted to lure him back to a life of sin, but the thought of ‘the forgiven’ leaving the favor of his dad seems unfathomable. After being so broken and torn, why would we ever run from the hand that welcomed us, forgave us, and healed us? But since we know ourselves, we sing the prayer in the old hymn, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”:
“Oh to grace, how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be.
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Never let me wander from Thee, never leave the God I love.
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.”
The older brother was not broken or torn… but he was in the worst of shape. Perhaps when you are healthy, rich, smart, or popular you’re in more danger than the sinner in the ditch. “You think you’ve got it all together and don’t need a thing, but I’ll tell you the truth — you’re in a desperate place.” That’s what the wise father could have told his oldest son long before he skipped out on his brother’s party. This brother thought he had been dishonored because his father had shown mercy to his rebellious brother. But he did not really know his father or the meaning of love and compassion. He was consumed with two thoughts from a darkened perspective: how good and deserving he was and how bad and undeserving was his brother.
“Examine yourselves…” the apostle counsels. But we’ve got to examine truthfully. We’ve got to deal with reality. The older brother would have written a glowing self report about his character, his work ethic, and his faithfulness to his father. But what was the truth? What were his motives? This is why we must ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and expose anything that does not line up with the Holy Christ who rescued us. Though everyone should have run to the One who came to save them, John says, “His own did not receive him.” He was unrecognized and unaccepted. “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
So is there any difference today? Christians can easily point to sin in the world and say, “The darkness is worse! Look how many reject God!” But the Father is looking first at his own children. Has the Light overcome the darkness? Are members of God’s family more like the older brother in Jesus’ parable or a rescued lamb? Surely God wants humility to describe his household. “But Lord, could you really use me? I’ve been such a wreck. Look how proud I have been and how many times I’ve sinned. I’ve dishonored you so often, how can you call me a chosen one? I don’t deserve…”
“You’ve come to the cross, my child. There you received mercy and grace. I filled you with my Spirit and all your sins are forgiven. You’ve come to me empty-handed… as a little child, and I’ve given you new life. Stay in this surrendered place and walk in my Light. All the world holds dear shall become worthless to you, for you shall see my glory. Eternal life is this: knowing me… true life, true joy, true peace. You are robed in the righteousness of my Son… who perfectly lived out the life I asked him to live and then laid it down. When I look at you, I see him and great joy fills my heart. The day of the great wedding feast is fast approaching; do not be complacent. Be light in your world!”
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” I John 3:1