Do You Believe

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Come Home

“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before
thee, And I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father.”

Luke 15:17–20

Arose and Came

Here we need to pay attention to a very important detail. The Prodigal son had set out on a trip before: the trip that took him away from home. What we saw in that instance was that some time passed between his decision and the execution of the decision.

This time, all was different. This time it all happened in an instant. “I will arise and go to my father,” he decided. And right then and there he arose and went. This is very important. If you want to turn to the living God, do it today. Conversion happens very quickly or never.

There are deep reasons for saying this. We can turn to God only if the Holy Spirit calls and admonishes us. And if this happens, we need to answer His call hastily.

A strange story is told about Alexander the Great. When besieging a city, he kindled a fire. If the city surrendered while the fire still burned, he showered it with mercy and honor. But if the fire went out, no mercy was to be expected, only wrath, sword, and judgement.

In a similar way God kindles a fire of mercy for us. And while it burns, we need to arise and go to our Savior. Because later on there will be only wrath and God’s judgement.

“And he arose…” Many times I have caught myself wondering, “But what happened to the pigs?” Oh yeah, that is not important at all! He who wants to leave shouldn’t take his time declaring to Satan about his “departure” and bargaining with him. If you do, you’ll never be free from your past.

What Did He Take Along?

“And he arose…” Was there anything he took with him? He brought along that which every converted soul takes with him: his rags and tatters of clothes. He didn’t get dressed up. His father dressed him up later. He who wants to convert, can and should come just as he is, with his sins, faults, doubts, and unbelief. The things that you are missing will be given to you later by the Father. He who has the courage to ask for mercy, must also muster up strength to fall into the Father’s embrace. A sinner, just as he is.

He brought along his heavy conscience. Our conscience is freed only when God forgives our sins through the blood of Jesus.

He also brought along a great trust in his Father. “Even though I have failed my Father’s love, I know He won’t kick me out,” he thought. Without such trust in Jesus, conversion is impossible.

What Was His Goal?

“And he arose and came to his father…” Many years ago, a young man came to me and said, “My life needs to change.” Today, he is still in the same phase where his life needs to change. He didn’t get far. It was an unsuccessful trip. Some reach only the city church. Others reach the point of the decision making. Some reach emotion. Still others reach Christian convictions. But they need to reach God. The prodigal son came to his father. A sinner needs to reach the destination of a Living, Resurrected Savior. Blessed is he who reaches Him!

“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

Isaiah 45:22

Meeting The Father

“But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him…”

Those who have regularly and carefully studied the story of the prodigal son have probably noticed how little it says about the father. The father was quiet when his son laid claim to his property. He was quiet when his son left for a far land. He was quiet when his son wasted all his money. He was quiet when his son was in need. That’s how God is. You can reject God. You can violate His laws. You can live without Him. God is quiet during all that time. But then your life will become like the prodigal son’s. The word of God regarding a life like this is what the prophet Jeremiah said to the nation which had turned away from God: “…know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God…” Jeremiah 2:19

Dante, the great Italian poet, wrote in his poem “Divine Comedy” about the journey to hell. In it, he says that above the entrance to hell are written the words, “Abandon hope, all those who enter here.” I personally think that above the entrance into hell are words that say, “Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God.”

The prodigal son experienced this. But he wasn’t in hell. He could still return. And he did just that. And only then, finally, we hear something about the father.

While the prodigal son was still far away, his father saw him. He didn’t see him accidentally, or he wouldn’t have seen him when he was still far away. No, the father was waiting for his son. There is a beautiful picture drawn by Ejen Byurnan depicting a flat rooftop on a big house. On the roof stands the father, peering into the distance. He raises his hand to his eyes to block out the sunlight to see better. He doesn’t care what is happening around him. His whole figure expresses expectation.

Notice this secret of the prodigal son’s life. When he left, his loving father watched him go. And at that moment, the long wait began. The father waited. The son was in trouble and great need. The father still waited.

Do you know that this secret is also in your life? Your God is waiting for you.

The God Who Waits

The God Who waits. This is the way He is depicted to us in the Bible. There are two passages with these amazing words: “All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” Romans 10:21; Isaiah 65:2. The Bible also shows God as a wine producer, waiting on His servants to bring Him fruit. (John chapter 15)

Apostle Paul reminds us that God has a plan for the end of the world. However, He holds it off, patiently waiting on this or that person, hoping he will turn in his ways. Peter says, “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:7–9

Father’s Attention

Now I will touch on such an important topic, that I need to ask God to help you correctly understand it. “But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him…” This is the first thing we read about the father. Doesn’t He have more important things to do than peer into the distance for His long lost son? No. Waiting for His son is His priority. He doesn’t see anything else. Anyone who has read the story to the end probably knows that later on His older son complained about not getting enough attention. And the older son was right. What is most important to the father is watching to see if his lost son will return. And all this reminds us of the fact that God awaits all those who left Him.

Today, many people count themselves “religious”. Do you think your God cares about this? All He waits for is your return.

In Jerusalem in the days of prophet Isaiah, there was a lot of religion. There were many celebrations in the temple that included sacrifices. Hands were raised up in prayer. We probably think that this surely made God happy! So much external religiosity! But what do we hear from Him? “Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear…” Isaiah 1:14–15. And another time He says, “Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.” Amos 5:23. After which He commands: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil… if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Isaiah 1:16, 19. God doesn’t want religion, culture, or a pious point of view if we’re lacking what is most important – our return to Him.

There are people who say, “I’m a good and honest person.” This, of course, is great! But what will you, overly confident person, answer to the words written in the Bible? “…and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6. God doesn’t pay any attention to all our accomplishments. Quite the opposite, He waits in hope that you will turn to Him in repentance.

To fully understand this, we should know that when talking about the father in the parable, Jesus meant Himself. Jesus is the Father, the Savior of sinners. The hands that are reaching out now were nailed to the cross. The eyes that are peering into the distance were once beaten by fists.

Jesus is the Father “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 4:25. And until we return to Him with sincere words of repentance and heartfelt trust, His suffering and death for us will be in vain. That is why the words of the crucified Savior are still heard today: “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 45:22.

From the book of Wilhelm Busch “Come Home”

The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

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