Jesus told a parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15: 11-32. In the parable, after the prodigal son had demanded for his inheritance and upon receiving it, he travelled to foreign country and carelessly misspent it. His father, who was hopeful of his return, watched from a distance when he saw him returning home. In spite of it Luke 15: 20 says while he was still far off, his father saw him and was willed with compassion. The father had compassion after the son unwisely wasted his life and precious resources.
Prior in Luke 15: 1-10 Jesus was accused of entertaining tax collectors and sinners and eating with those who were unclean. With parables, Jesus illustrated how souls were precious to God, in particular sinners until redeemed. The parables were the lost sheep; the lost coins; and the prodigal son. In all the three parables, there was joy when the lost were recovered. This is the attitude of God the Father of life.
What does God want from us?
God wants us to help to recover lost and dying souls. James 5: 20 says whoever brings back a sinner from wondering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. We must resist any attraction to a wasteful spiritual life of sin and gloom. Proverbs 1: 10 says my child, if sinners entice you, do not consent. The prodigal son lost all his wealth because of worldliness. Proverbs 23: 17 says do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
In the parable of the prodigal son, God is the father. The prodigal son is God’s sinful children who separate from him only to waste their spiritual inheritance through worldliness. The foreign country is Satan’s sinful world which is far from God. The pigs are the dirty low lives we descend into upon separating from our spiritual home with God. Coming to himself signifies true repentance in Christ Jesus. His acceptance back is God’s forgiveness in Christ Jesus. The joy is the delight in heaven for our salvation. The party is Jesus’ heavenly banquet with his saints. The prodigal son’s complaint is the unforgiving Christian.
Why does God keep watch in spite of our wasteful lives?
To show his eternal love
God’s love through Christ Jesus has no end. 1John 4: 9-10 records that God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Our sins do not quench God’s love for us, we rather separate from God through sin. Romans 5: 8 says but God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. God loves sinners though he hates sin. He is still watching us from a distance hoping we will come home to righteousness.
To restore the dead and lost
Sin means death to righteousness, and loss to eternity. God watches for an opportunity to bring us back to life because he is the only one who is ordained to do it. Jesus said in John 11: 25-26 I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives in me will never die. He also watches to show us the way back home because we are lost spiritually. Jesus said in John 14: 6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus is watching if we will invite him not only to revise us, but to show us the way back to God. Pray.
To realize his salvation mission
God will not give up on our soul till life ceases. His mission in Luke 4: 18 says the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. God’s mission for mankind was long foretold by the prophets in Isaiah 61: 1. Jesus confirmed God’s mission for him by concluding in Luke 19: 10 for the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. For this mission, Jesus to Peter and Andrew in Matthew 4: 19; Mark 1: 17 follow me, and I will make you fish for people. Jesus is still in the fishing business for the souls of people.
To monitor mankind’s progress
God has not left us as orphans. Psalms 1: 6b says for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. God watches because he does not want his people to perish. Psalms 33: 14 says from where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth–he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds. He knows our weaknesses hence watches us always in all we do from his throne above. Proverbs 15: 3 says the eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. God monitors us for a good purpose, to encourage us or to chastise us.
To show his love has no barriers
God always looks beyond our sins. 2Peter 3: 9 says the Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. Race or colour is no barrier to God’s redeeming grace. 1Corinthians 12: 13 says for in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–Jews or Greeks, slaves or free. The prodigal son was restored when he came back. Romans 10: 13 says for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Once we are ready to change, sin is removed as a barrier to God’s grace, love and mercy. God watches to remove the barriers.
To show he respects our freedom
Although God can force us to do what is right, he does not do so because he has already given us free choice to exercise responsibly, hence he watches how we exercise it. Moses said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30: 19… I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live. We have the liberty to choose where we want to spend eternity, in heaven or in hell. The same freedom to choose was expressed by Joshua in Joshua 24: 15. As a warning against reckless choices, Proverbs 14: 12; 16: 25 say there is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death. God is watching how responsibly we exercise our freedom of choice.
Our separation from God grieves his heart. Genesis 6: 6 says and the LORD was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we rebel in sin. The prodigal son prayed the prayer in Ezra 9: 6 O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. God is watching if we will come back with a similar prayer to Christ Jesus now.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you watch us return to you for a good reason. Thank you for not giving up on us. We come back to you with a penitent heart as unworthy children. Receive us because of your blood and renew our inheritance in you in your holy name, Amen!!
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