So he (the prodigal son) got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 

                                                                                                       Luke 15:20 

Today: Read Luke 15

We have all probably seen it at one time or another. Someone steps off of a plane, walks down the jet bridge, and is reunited with his/her family. Perhaps they have been away on business or military service. Maybe they have moved and this is the first opportunity for them to reunite. But regardless of the circumstances, the hugs, kisses, and embraces tell the story. They have been separated and now they are together again. And what is it that drives this glorious reunion? Of course it is love.

When Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son, I believe He is revealing His love for all of us. In the story the father represents God while the prodigal could be any of us. We have all been to a “distant country.” That’s what happened to this prodigal. He asked his father for his inheritance so that he could leave home, go out into the world, and become his “own man.” Scripture tells us that the father gave him what he requested and the son was on his way.

The son would spend the next piece of time squandering everything that he had on loose living. Wine, women, and song would be an accurate description of the activities in which the son participated. Isn’t it interesting that for many (if not all) of us, engaging in everything that the world has to offer seems to be a familiar scene? How many times do we see young people suspend their pursuit of God so that they can first go and “live it up”? That’s what the prodigal was doing and he would spare no expense to satisfy his own desires.

It is important to notice what the father did and did not do. First, he allowed the son to go his own way and to make the journey into the “distant country.” Secondly, he did not run after him. If we take the time to make a thorough examination of love, we will discover that love always demands a choice. To see a man and woman voluntarily standing at the alter freely pledging their devotion and fidelity to one another can be quite a beautiful thing. However if we were to alter that beautiful scene by inserting a man with a shotgun behind the couple, strongly encouraging their decision by threat of the alternative, the scene turns frightening. We would wholly support the first scenario but would be in despair over the second. The choice to travel to the distant country and the lack of pursuit by the father was all because of love.

So what happened to our prodigal? He found, as many do, that the world of sensuality and pleasure, parties and carousing does not ever satisfy the soul. In fact, when we engage in this lifestyle, more is always required. As one event subsides, the next needs to be planned. Life is reduced to the next opportunity in pleasurable pursuits. Broke and far from home, this prodigal came to his senses. He decides to return to his father’s house. Not expecting to be received, he calculates what he will say to his father. Humility will be imperative as he faces his dad. “He will probably read me the riot act. He might not want to see me. Maybe he will insist that I leave.” Perhaps these were some of his thoughts as he began his journey toward home.

But as he nears home, his father sees him coming over the horizon. Everything that the prodigal must have thought about his dad would be proven wrong. Remember our scene in the airport? Well, that is what we are about to witness now and it is all driven by love.

So he (the prodigal son) got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 

Is this the mental image we have when thinking about God? It should be. Jesus is telling us that this earthly father ran to hug and kiss his prodigal. Can we begin to imagine the joy that was in the father’s heart as he sees his son returning home? There is no reprimand, no scolding, and no penalty for his wandering. What good would that do anyway? The past is the past and now the present is yielding a remarkable moment of restoration, forgiveness, and healing. And dad’s not done with this reunion:

But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

                                                                                                                 Luke 15:22-24

The father brought out the best. He spared no expense. Everything that this prodigal had not earned through his own actions the father was now willing to give through his. There would be a celebration of this homecoming. But this celebration would be different from that of the world. The world parties in an attempt to forget reality, this party was a celebration of reality, the truth that this son was home.

God loves you and is eagerly awaiting your return. He will allow you to run. He will honor your decisions. But when you make the choice to begin your journey home, don’t be surprised when God meets you right where you are. The best that God has to offer is not based on our actions rather on His goodness and love. Regardless of the road you have traveled in the past, I want to encourage you to freely receive the goodness, salvation, forgiveness, and healing that God offers you now! Call on Him today!