Luke 15
IT often happens that a soul is hindered from getting full peace and enjoyment of the results of the blessed finished work of Christ, because it clings to something which the heart taught of God condemns―something of the world. In such a case there are only two alternatives. One, the choice of the young ruler who “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions”; the other, the choice of the chief of sinners: “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” Nothing but decision will bring such a heart to its only resting-place.
But nearly all other hindrances maybe summed up in the words, “Make me as one of thy hired servants,” and we have seen how the father met and silenced forever that unworthy thought of the heart that had not learned God’s way of dealing―God’s grace.
When once the poor, weary, famished prodigal has left himself in the father’s arms, after uttering his heartfelt confession, “I have sinned,” the father does all the rest, and the son has nothing more to say. Volumes might be, and indeed have been, written upon this last wonderful scene. But we can only just gather the outline of what is unfolded in the way the father meets the prodigal’s need.
Note first that although food was what brought the prodigal home, it is the last thing that the father gives him. This is the order:
1. The Best Robe. ― The father knew best how to meet the prodigal’s need. Anything less than what satisfies God’s glory would never make us at home in His house, or fit to be there at all. So, first, the father makes the son fit to enter his house in a way worthy of himself. In the first parable we saw the shepherd carry home his sheep, and who dare challenge the right of the sheep to enter if it be borne on the shoulders of him who has sought and found it? But here we have the other side, the result of Christ’s work presented to the heart of a trembling sinner by the Father Himself. Arrayed in Christ, a vile sinner becomes the righteousness of God. Not only is God just in justifying you as a believer in Jesus (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)), but God’s righteousness is seen in putting you in Christ, for Christ was made sin by God for you (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). This is what the Father had in store. The best robe, or, as it is literally, “the first robe,” God’s first thought.
God always had Christ before Him, and when, throughout eternity, the Father’s eye shall rest with delight upon each redeemed one blest forever in His love, it is upon Christ that His eye will rest; it is Christ’s perfection, clothing each, that will satisfy His heart. Now, you have not to wait till you get to heaven, you have the best robe now. It is the first thing the Father gives you. You may say, and rightly, “I am not worthy”; you are not, nor will you ever be. But the language that His grace puts into our hearts, when once His way of acting is understood and simply received is this― “Giving thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” You are not worthy, but He has made you worthy, as worthy as Christ Himself, for He is your title, your meetness to be there. Can that ever change?
2. The Ring. ― The robe was for all to see. No one could doubt the fitness of one so royally arrayed to enter the house. No servant wears such a dress. But the ring is for the son’s own personal assurance; it seals him as a son. Nobody else might see or notice that he had a ring on his finger, although the robe was plain enough to see. But the son knew the ring was his, a link that could not be broken. The robe secures his place, the ring seals his relationship. The father puts them together and they cannot be separated, but the ring follows the robe. The Father seals the work of Christ, not your experiences. That is why we get in Ephesians 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13), “In whom after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”; and in Galatians 4:66And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6), “And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying Abba, Father.”
It is by faith in Christ that we are justified, get a title to be in God’s glory, and are made sons of God. It is the result of Christ’s work, that the moment you rest by faith on it, accepting it for yourself, God sets the seal of the Spirit upon Christ’s work, and you are sealed until the day of redemption (Eph. 4:3030And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)). Christ’s perfect work makes you His forever, and Christ’s perfect work enables you to know and enjoy God as your Father by the Holy Ghost. Can you say Abba, Father?
3. The Shoes. ― These follow the ring in divine order. You have not only a son’s place but a son’s inheritance. In Ephesians 1:1414Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14) it continues, speaking of that same Spirit by which we have been sealed, “who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory.” In the Old Testament the shoe is frequently used as a type of the title or claim to an inheritance. But the wonderful thing about our inheritance is that it makes us pilgrims here. Our inheritance is not on earth, not earthly blessing, but in heaven, to share Christ’s glory. Hence its effect is to separate our hearts from this world. How can I desire a thread or a shoe-latchet from the world when Christ in His infinite love has given me a share in His glory; when the Father has made me meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light? Poor fastening for such shoes indeed that would be! It is the heart that keeps the feet. Our portion in Christ and with Christ, known and loved, makes us strangers here, and we do not feel that we lose anything. All is loss that is not Christ, and Christ is not here, we are going to Him. Thus with robe and ring and shoes you are started on the journey. The journey begins where the wanderings end. All your own wanderings and exercises will never cause you to progress on the way to the Father’s house. You must start from Christ’s work at the cross to tread, in the full and joyful assurance of the place and portion that is yours as a son of God, that blessed path that leads to the glory where Christ has entered for you already, making your place secure.
4. The Fatted Calf. ― We come back to where we started from ― to Christ. What a change from husks, the food of swine, to the fatted calf, the food of the father’s table! But it comes last of all. You cannot enjoy Christ as the object of the Father’s heart, the center of the Father’s counsels, the slain One who lives for evermore, until your heart is fully assured of the perfection of Christ’s work and its results for God’s glory and your eternal blessing.
5. “They Began to be Merry.” ― What a change again, from “he began to be in want” to “they began to be merry.” This wonderful joy is the joy of Christ. Himself in Acts 2:2626Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: (Acts 2:26), “My heart is glad.” It is in resurrection, beyond the power of sin and death to mar. We have seen how it is reached. Only one is left outside at the end of all. May the Father bring your heart to share it, and may no doubt of His love on the one hand, or foolish pride on the other, keep you from the full blessing which He would have you enjoy now and forever. Amen.
S. H. H.