Many years ago Barby and I were visiting family and had stopped off at a local mall to do some shopping. While browsing some books, Reuben and Rebekah, who were only 2 yrs and 4 yrs old at the time, totally vanished in a matter of seconds. After searching the mall and not finding them, panic set in as I realized that these precious children of mine might have been kidnapped. We put out a public announcement for them, seemingly to no avail. After several minutes of waiting, and while I consoling Barby, I turned and saw coming down the mall the most precious sight I could have wished for - both children walking hand in hand toward us without a care in the world. They had heard their names on the mall intercom and decided that they had better find Mom and Dad. I scooped them up in my arms and gave them the most gi-normous hug. I was not angry at them for wandering off. I was simply overwhelmed with the emotion of joy that they were ok and back together with us.
In the same way, Luke 15 reveals to us heaven’s great joy in recovering that which was lost. In verses 11-23 we find the parable that is most famously called the parable of the prodigal son. This parable could equally be called, “The Seeking Father”, or “The Father Heart of God”.
For many people their view of God is that He is a harsh judge who simply dishes out His wrath without mercy; that He is an angry, oppressive, domineering God. For others the idea of God being a father figure is frightening because fathers represent abandonment, detachment, anger, abuse and failure. The Scriptures, however, show a faithful God who is full of compassion and lovingkindness. He is the true model of a Father, and one worthy of our attention.
Please consider with me Luke 15:11-23, a parable which powerfully and persuasively presents to the reader a portrait of the Father heart of God.
I see in this parable four amazing characteristics of the “Father heart of God”, so that you might truly understand God and find the home that you were created to belong to.
I. A Watching Heart: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him.”
The shameful request of the son to take his inheritance early and go and live life as though his father was already dead did not change the fact that the father longingly watched for the return of his son every day. This was the son who had dishonored and disgraced the family name amongst the town folks.
The very fact that this father saw his son while he was still a long way off tells us that this father was not just leaning on the railing of his house. The father had to go out to the city gate and look intently down the road every day. Day after day the father made this trip to the city gate, maybe several times a day. There was a deep heartache and longing for the return of his son. He privately bore unspeakable pain over the brokenness of the relationship. He desperately hoped that the son would soon learn that the world cannot offer what the father’s house could offer and so return.
This watching heart of the father is true of our Creator. He watches and longs for us to return to Him. He has from the beginning of time anticipated the return of every son of His.
“God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God.” (Psalm 53:2)
“For the Son of Man [Jesus Christ, God incarnate] has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) The Lord has been watching from eternity past.
II. A Loving Heart: “And he felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
The father was moved to compassion when he saw the son dragging himself, starving and hungry, weak and frail, up the road to the town. He was moved to do something that was considered totally inappropriate for a man of dignity and importance. He ran! This was a scandal, and as Jesus told this parable, this picture of a Jewish man running would have been viewed by the Pharisees as offensive and shocking to say the least. Yet this act of running was an expression of the father’s humble love.
The love of the father was such that it overwhelmed him to the point that he embraced the swine smelling, dirty bodied son, and kissed him repeatedly. To kiss in this manner was “to regard and treat somebody as one of one’s own people”. The father’s compassion was not merely sorrow over the son’s past sin, nor was it produced by the sight of his son’s filthy, emancipated body; rather, the father saw the desperate relational state of the son as he walked towards his home town. He knew that the son was carrying guilt and shame, and that there would be contempt from the neighbors; he knew that there would be those who would heap scorn upon him for his shameless lifestyle. So the father ran to reach the son first because he wanted to cover and protect him, to assure him that he was forgiven and welcome.
This is such a vivid picture of Jesus Christ who humbled Himself, endured the cross despising the shame (Heb. 12:12). Like this father Jesus Christ ran ahead of us and bore the reproach and shame we rightfully should have borne. He endured the scorn and hatred of men, taking our guilt upon Himself, even giving up His reputation, and then dying the death of a criminal that we might go free. This loving heart of God brought about a means by which we might be forgiven.
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10, NAS)
The Bible says in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
To know the loving heart of God is to experience the forgiveness of your sins and to be declared by God a new creation in Christ Jesus. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
III. A Generous Heart: “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.”
Now, don’t miss what happens next. This is so fundamental to the heart of God. The father doesn’t simply wipe the slate of the son’s shame away; he does so much more. He reinstates the son’s position in the family.
He calls for the best robe to be put upon him. This robe was a gift of honor. It was the father’s personal robe made of the finest materials available. It would have only ever worn on special occasions such as a wedding. Imagine how undeserving the son would have felt as this robe was put on him to cover his shame.
Next there is a ring placed on his finger – this spoke of the gift of authority. This ring was the signet ring that had the family crest. It would be used to seal formal documents and served as legal authentication.
Next the father calls for sandals to be put on his feet. The sandals speak to the gift of sonship. Slaves and hired servants of the house would generally go barefoot. Only masters and sons wore sandals.
When considering the son’s sinful and shameful past, this father was going above and beyond anything that would have been done in the culture that Jesus was speaking to. All this is a powerful reminder of the eternal grace of God that He pours out upon us so undeservedly and freely.
As law breakers we deserve only God’s wrath. Yet, through His Son, He generously brings us into the place of sonship, gives us an inheritance in heaven, and covers us with the righteous robe of His Son.
IV. A Rejoicing Heart: “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.”
Finally, we see a rejoicing heart. Here, put on full display, is the extravagant grace of God. As Jesus described the scene, He pictured an extraordinary celebration. This was the party to end all parties. The fattened calf was prepared and cooked. The banquet was prepared, and the greatest celebration this family had ever known began. What was the cause of this celebration? It was the repentance of the son; it was the relational reality that to this Father his son had been as good as dead, but now he was alive. This son was as good as lost, but now he was found.
““I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)
Conclusion:
You might be asking, “How do I get to experience such a wonderful heavenly father?” “What do I have to do to be the recipient of such loving and sharing, such rejoicing and giving?”
Like the prodigal son, you must come to your senses (v.17). You must see the folly of trying to live life without the Father. You must experience the desperation of true spiritual hunger. You must see that what the world is offering you will no more satisfy your soul than the husks of the pig’s food. You must see that your sin is not only of earthly consequences but is against heaven itself.
If you don’t think you are a sinner then you will not see the need of a Savior. So many today have bought into the lie that God will not address sin. Yet if God is to be a just God, He must deal with sin, your sin! There are two ways that can come about. Either you take the Law’s payment of eternal separation from God, which is death, or you seek the mercy and forgiveness of God, who is able to justly forgive you because Jesus died in your place.
If you are to know God’s Father-heart, you must see that the love of pleasure and money will only bring you into a slavery that will leave you hungry and unsatisfied. You must come humbled and broken, mourning over all the sins you have committed, knowing you are no longer worthy to be called God’s son, willing to be His slave, knowing that even this is more than you deserve.
You may have abandoned the Father, but the Father is watching for your return. Will you come and be loved and blessed, and join in the great celebration at the table of God?
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