“I will arise and go unto my father, and will say unto him, ‘Father, I have sinned’.”
“Lord, from Thee I went astray,
Lured by magic song.
Through dim places far away
I have wandered long.
Now when lost are moon and star,
Shines the light of Home afar.”
“Then within His home He brought me,
Brought me where the feast was spread,
Made me eat with Him, my Father,
I who begged for bondsman’s bread.”
LOOK at the prodigal as he arises from the swine field to go to his father his burdened conscience and the load of shame that weighs upon his soul make the going heavy; his need drives him homeward but he does not run, and often he hesitates, for he has gone so far away that it seems impossible that he should ever reach his father’s house again. It would be impossible if it depended on his efforts, or even upon the sincerity of his repentance, but another and a greater factor enters the story, it is the father’s love. “When he was yet a great way off” ―the word is the same as the far country― “his father saw him,” ―How keen are the eyes of love! “And had compassion on him” ―How tender is the heart of love! “and ran,” ―How swift are the feet of love! “and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Love cannot be restrained. He covered him with kisses, for that is the word. Consider well the activity and extravagance of the father’s love!
Is that the way that God greets and treats returning sinners? It is nothing less than that that the parable teaches. But when the Lord told this story was He not exaggerating, did He not lay on the colors too brightly? That were impossible, for He is the Truth, and nothing but the truth and the whole truth could come out of His mouth. But why should God act in this way to those who can bring nothing to Him but their sin and shame? There is but one answer to that question. “God is love,” and the love that fills His heart for men finds its relief and its delight in covering the multitude of their sins by His kiss and driving all fear out of their hearts by His love. I speak out of my own experience, which answers most blessedly to the words of the parable.
“Yet a great way off He saw me,
Ran to meet me as I came;
As I was my Father loved me,
Loved me in my sin and shame.”
It was now the time for the prodigal to speak, and his own need and his father’s love gave directness and brevity to his speech, “Father,” he said, “I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.” Here was sincerity and true repentance. He made no excuses; he did not cast the blame upon others; he did not even plead for mercy. In that sacred, solemn hour all others were forgotten but his father and himself—his sin and his father’s love. This is the way that the sinner comes to God and is welcomed by the love that is greater than his sin. Then the whole truth comes out, for all was known before, and all is confessed and forgiven, and were this not so, no sinner could be happy in the presence of God. Let us anticipate for a moment and consider this son seated at his father’s table, and suppose that his father had not known all his sins and forgiven all. He is not happy, his eye is on the door; every time it opens he is afraid that someone from the far country is about to enter the house to tell his father of some shame of his of which he does not know; says the son to himself, “If my father discovers all, he will spurn me from his table and drive me from his doors.” But no, he is afraid of no report of his doings in the far country reaching his father’s ears; he can say, he knows all, even the worst; he knew it all before I confessed it, and he has forgiven all he knows. “Thou God seest me,” is a word that has made many tremble, it is a word that fills the heart that knows the gospel with peace and joy, for it means that God has forgiven all He has seen and known, there is nothing hidden from Him.
The father’s answer to his son’s confession is more than forgiveness for his sins, and food for his hunter, and the kitchen for his shelter, he is to have what he never had before. “Bring forth the best robe and put it on him,” is the command which willing servants hasten to obey, while the son stands by and submits with an amazement that robs him of speech. He is to come into his father’s house not as a slave but a son, and he must be there in such a fashion that his father shall not be ashamed of him, but be able to look upon him with complacency and pleasure, and nothing but the best will do. The ring was the pledge of an endless love and the shoes were for a son recognized as a son and not a servant. And this is the way that God acts according to His eternal purpose to all whom He receives. Infinitely more than Adam lost in Eden is given in sovereign grace.
“From the riches of His glory
Brought He costliest raiment forth.
Brought the ring that sealed His purpose,
Shoes to tread His golden courts.
Put them on me—robes of glory
Spotless as the heavens above,
Not to meet my thoughts of fitness
But His wondrous thoughts of love.”
There was nothing more splendid in the father’s house as he entered there by his father’s side than that once prodigal boy, for he was dressed in the best that the house could produce, and not a servant in the house could say he was not fit to be there. But who shall speak of what the Father has done and will yet do for all who believe? They can say, “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Colossians 1:99For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (Colossians 1:9). “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1 “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever, Amen.” Jude 2424Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 24).
“Had I an angel’s raiment―fair
With heavenly gems unpriced,
That glorious garb I would not wear,
My robe is Christ.”
Thus sang an old saint of God long ago, and every one that has come to the Father by Christ, the new and living way, may sing the same glad song.
Then they began to be merry, and as they feasted on the fatted calf, it was the father’s joy that filled the home; it was he who said, “Let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” They began to be merry, and that divine and heavenly merriment shall never cease, for it is the joy of God in the blessing of men.
“And now in His joy He singeth,
In His joy He singeth of me,
And all the heavens make music
As the gladness of God they see
‘He was dead—he was dead, and he liveth,
He was lost, was lost and is found!’
This is the song that He singeth,
The marvelous joyful sound,
Through the open doors of heaven
Afar through the starless night
Is borne the hymn of rejoicing,
The music of God’s delight.”
This story of the love of God and how His love acts is incredible to all but a God-given faith, but those who have that faith believe it because Jesus told it, and His word is the word of the living God Who cannot lie. And how complete is the blessing, it is exceeding abundantly above all that they ask or think. Like the prodigal, they would have been satisfied with bread and a place in the kitchen, and that would have been infinitely beyond their deserts; instead God has forgiven them for Christ’s sake, He has brought them into favor in His Beloved One, and they are permitted to hear the Beloved saying to His Father, “Father... Thou hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me... and I have declared unto them Thy Name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me, may be in them, and I in them.” John 17.
What an answer to the cold and bitter sarcasm of the Pharisees is this story of the love of God for sinful men! And what an answer to the devil’s lie in Eden! In this love, so amazing, so divine, the weary sinner finds complete repose and, made fit for the Father’s presence, worships at His feet.