Come Home (Part Four)

 Hi friend! :) This post is the fourth and last part in the blog post series "Come Home" based on the sermon I did at our church last month. To read the first three parts, click here, here, and here!

The first three parts covered three false statements that we often believe about ourselves and God:

Part One: "God could never want to be with me, I'm such a sinner." In this part, we discovered that Jesus came to be with sinners, and to lift them up to joy and peace in being with Him!

Part Two: "I'm too far gone for God to love me." Here we looked at the story of the lost sheep, and how Jesus loves us no matter how far we've wandered away. 

 

Part Three: "I'm not good enough, I'm just worthless." In this part, we looked at the parable of the lost coin and discovered that "the value of an object is determined by the price paid for it, and God gave everything for you. You are of infinite worth, because He paid an infinite price for you. Nothing you could ever do can change that."

And now, in Part Four, we will be looking at the parable of the prodigal son, and how it answers the final statement, "I'm not worthy to be called God's child".


This parable is found in Luke 15, verses 11-32. (If you haven't heard it in awhile, I'd reach for your Bible and let the words become fresh in your mind. :))

Picture this with me: you have run away, committed just about every sin in the book, disobeyed everything your father taught you, squandered your father’s livelihood on sinful pleasures that have all turned to dust, and you wonder if your father could still love you. Let’s pick up the story as it is retold in the book Christ’s Object Lessons…*

  “The love of God still yearns over the one who has chosen to separate from Him, and He sets in operation influences to bring him back to the Father's house. The prodigal son in his wretchedness “came to himself.” The deceptive power that Satan had exercised over him was broken. He saw that his suffering was the result of his own folly, and he said, “How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father.” Miserable as he was, the prodigal found hope in the conviction of his father's love. It was that love which was drawing him toward home. So it is the assurance of God's love that constrains the sinner to return to God. “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” Romans 2:4. A golden chain, the mercy and compassion of divine love, is passed around every imperiled soul. The Lord declares, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3...

The young man turns from the swine herds and the husks, and sets his face toward home. Trembling with weakness and faint from hunger, he presses eagerly on his way. He has no covering to conceal his rags; but his misery has conquered pride, and he hurries on to beg a servant's place where he was once a child.

Little did the… thoughtless youth, as he went out from his father's gate, dream of the ache and longing left in that father's heart. When he danced and feasted with his wild companions, little did he think of the shadow that had fallen on his home. And now as with weary and painful steps he pursues the homeward way, he knows not that one is watching for his return. But while he is yet “a great way off” the father discerns his form. Love is of quick sight. Not even the degradation of the years of sin can conceal the son from the father's eyes. He “had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck” in a long, clinging, tender embrace.”

What a glorious picture!!! The son, dressed in tattered, smelly rags, hopeful yet cautious, approaches the road leading to his former home. His father, eyes straining to catch even a glimpse of his son, recognizes him at once and starts running as fast as his legs will carry him, then throws his arms around him and holds his son close.

How stunned the prodigal must have been! He has thought himself unworthy to be called his father’s son. He thought that maybe his father would let him be a servant. But listen to this, friend: The prodigal says to his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” And what does the Father say? This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” He calls him “my son”.

God is the Father in the story.

That last statement, “I’m not worthy to be called God’s child,” was just blown to pieces.

The Father calls you His child, even if you’ve wandered so far, messed up so badly, sinned so much. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t worthy- Christ makes you worthy. You will always be His precious child.
Nothing you could ever do could change God’s love for you.


I'd like to share one last section from Christ’s Object Lessons…

"What assurance here, of God's willingness to receive the repenting sinner! Have you, reader, chosen your own way? Have you wandered far from God? Have you sought to feast upon the fruits of transgression, only to find them turn to ashes upon your lips? And now, your substance spent, your life-plans thwarted, and your hopes dead, do you sit alone and desolate? Now that voice which has long been speaking to your heart but to which you would not listen comes to you distinct and clear, “Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest…”...Return to your Father's house. He invites you, saying, “Return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isaiah 44:22.

Do not listen to the enemy's suggestion to stay away from Christ until you have made yourself better; until you are good enough to come to God. If you wait until then, you will never come. When Satan points to your filthy garments, repeat the promise of Jesus, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. Tell the enemy that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. Make the prayer of David your own, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7.

Arise and go to your Father. He will meet you a great way off. If you take even one step toward Him in repentance, He will hasten to enfold you in His arms of infinite love. His ear is open to the cry of the contrite soul. The very first reaching out of the heart after God is known to Him. Never a prayer is offered, however faltering, never a tear is shed, however secret, never a sincere desire after God is cherished, however feeble, but the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it. Even before the prayer is uttered or the yearning of the heart made known, grace from Christ goes forth to meet the grace that is working upon the human soul…"

Oh friend! This is God’s voice to you. If you’ve been wondering if God will accept you, if it is worth it to come to Him, look to the cross. Nailed there, in the form of His bleeding, dying Son, the Father’s arms of love are outstretched, in an undeniable plea: Come home. I love you. I gave My life for you. I will give you a new life, full of joy and hope and peace. Just come.

If God is speaking to your heart today, if you feel His gentle arms around you like the Shepherd of the sheep, if you see Him picking you up from the dust like the lost coin, if you hear Him calling to your heart “Come home” like the prodigal son, please don’t hesitate. Please come. He is pleading for you- longing to be with you again. He loves you. He will always love you.

The call is to every one. Maybe you’ve strayed from God, or maybe you’re a faithful Christian. Whoever you are, this is between you and God. If He is speaking to your heart today, I invite you to say, "Yes, Lord, I will come home. I will give myself to You, because You gave yourself for me."

He is embracing you, child of God. His arms are wrapped around you. He is crying tears of joy. He is singing over you. All heaven is rejoicing. Welcome home.

*The emphasis in the quotes from Christ's Object Lessons have been added by me.

God bless you, friend!

Hope