A Long Way Off...

“…the younger son got together all that he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth…After he had spent everything…he began to be in need. He longed to fill his stomach…” Luke 15:13-16

I cannot think of a better parable than this one as we can relate to the entire cast of characters. At different points in our lives we are called to be the forgiving one as God forgives us. There will be times in our lives when we are the rebellious son who flees from everything we know. Other times, we are asked to be joyful towards those who may not deserve it based on past circumstances. Several important points are worthy of notice.

The son was born into that family, so although he could separate himself from the family he never lost the birth into that family. Once we receive God as our Father through Christ we are solid and secure in the Body of Christ. We cannot lose our spiritual birth status, nor can we separate ourselves from the love of the Father.

At certain points in our lives we emotionally abandon a healthy and loving environment. We set our sights on a distant country in an effort to run away emotionally from our adversities. I know that I did this when I was secretly spending during the adversity of my daughter’s substance abuse.

I still get teary eyed when I read the portion of passage, ‘After he had…he began to be in need’ for this is moment of reckoning that each of us realize when things appear to be in shambles. The heaviness of realization of where our lives derailed creates a longing for home. When the inner emptiness and emotional loneliness envelopes us like a heavy fog in the dark early mornings we long for our spiritual stomachs to be filled.

As I humbly and thankfully type this next verse I praise the Father for His parental and unconditional love. “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw this arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20. God will not wait until we have it all together before He welcomes us back to Him. While we are far from perfect and reconciliation He runs to us and meets us where we are. Remember, the Bible teaches that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Women of Faith Study Bible states, ‘Through that parable, Jesus simply wanted to illustrate dramatically and clearly that we are loved by God the Father – loved beyond measure, loved beyond comprehension and yes, loved beyond what we deserve.’ Marilyn Meberg, p. 1719.

The father in our story didn’t seek his son but rather knew that his son must seek him first. Once the father saw his son’s intention of heart that was all it took for his father to come to him. The same is with our Father as He runs to meet us once the condition of our heart is shown with regret, humility and a longing for repentence.