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This famous story is often told with certain variations, but the original is exquisite and sublime. It stands alone in beauty and depth of meaning. For your convenience we quote it here:
“A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, 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, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry” (The Bible, Luke 15:11‑24).
This is called a parable; it is a story given to illustrate something. Now if the parable has matchless beauty, what does it illustrate?
The poor boy wandered far from his father and home into a style of life which brought him to ruin. Sad indeed was his condition in the far country! He little realized, when he went his own way, where the path would lead. This part of the parable illustrates the lost condition of mankind. Some have not gone as far as others into the far country, but all of us were away from God and were seeking to please ourselves—“We have turned every one to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6).
After a time the wayward son came to the realization of his pitiable condition and resolved to return to his father and to confess his sins, which he did without delay. This is all the father was waiting for, as is evidenced by the father’s watching for signs of the returning prodigal and by the manner in which he ran to meet him while “he was yet a great way off.” The love of his heart was shown out as he embraced and covered with kisses the wayward son. All this tells us of the love of God for poor, lost sinners; He is eagerly waiting for any to return and say, “I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.”
Then notice how the father in the parable did not bring his once-lost son into the house in rags and defilement; he first made him fit to be there. It was not left to the returning prodigal son to make himself presentable—the father had him clothed with the best robe, shoes put on his feet, and a ring on his hand. Such is the way of the love of God. He will receive each truly repentant sinner who comes to Him, and then He makes him fully suitable for His own presence. He clothes him with the best robe—Christ—so that he is seen in all its beauty. God cannot receive a sinner into His presence with sins on him, but when one confesses his sins, God has salvation, pardon, peace and joy for him through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross.
Do you see yourself in this exquisite story? You are there! You either still have your back toward God, or you have returned as a repentant sinner and submitted yourself to His cleansing and righteousness. If you have not returned, remember, God is waiting. Return! Return!
Come, guilty sinner, come;
Why wilt thou still delay?
Within the Father’s house there’s room;
Christ is the way;
The Father’s kiss still waits;
For thee His heart doth yearn,
And open wide are thrown the gates:
Return! Return!