The father’s love

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost..."- Luke 19:10

When a reporter interviewed a prostitute on a late night TV show, he noticed that she was wearing a small cross on a gold chain around her neck. "Are you a religious person?" he asked, commenting on her cross. Somewhat embarrassed, she quickly said, "Oh, not at all. I got away from all of that." She then told how she had gone to Sunday school as a girl, but then as a teenager, strayed far from the teaching of the little church she once attended.

The attraction of the big city–the glamor of the lights, and the thrill they seem to promise–has caused more than a few to pack their belongings in a duffel bag, take their guitar, and run away from home. Most of these "runaways" end up the same way–dirty, hungry, abused and disappointed. It is true today; it was true when Jesus told this story.

In the story known as "The Prodigal Son" in Luke 15, the lad "wasted everything he had on a wild lifestyle." When tough times came, he ended up feeding slop to pigs in the field. Talk about hitting bottom. Here’s the story:

"So he went at once to his father. While he was still at a distance, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son, put his arms around him, and kissed him. Then his son said to him, ‘Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and you. I don’t deserve to be called your son anymore.’

"The father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s celebrate with a feast. My son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.’ Then they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:22-24, God’s Word).

May I ask, "What stops you from coming back, just as the prodigal did in the story that Jesus told?" Pride? Stubbornness? The refusal to admit that things were better, that you were a lot happier, and you felt a lot better about yourself when you walked with the Lord? The turning point in the life of this young man was this: "Finally, he came to his senses."

It’s never too late. You’ve never gone too far. You are never beyond the care of the Shepherd, but it’s up to you to make the about face and head back home.

The picture of the dad who throws his arms around the son and weeps with joy is a picture of God’s love for you, friend. You find that same theme throughout the entire Bible. Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

I have no way of knowing if the girl who "got away from all of that", as she described it, ever returned to the Lord, but "all of that", as she puts it, namely, the Cross, brings peace and restoration. - Resource Reading: Luke 15:11-32