Read: Luke 15:11-24 

This story is a parable, but imagine for a second that this was a real family. A real father with his real sons. These sons would have grown up seeing their Father’s love and wisdom. They would have trusted him, seen his goodness. Heard over and over that he wanted the best for them.  

And yet, the younger son still wanted his own way. He chose to trust his own desires over his Father’s wisdom and timing. He ran away. He took the Father’s blessings and used them sinfully and stupidly. We repeat Proverbs 3:5 all the time – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” – this is what leaning on your own understanding looks like in our lives. It’s leaving the protection and provision of the wise and loving Father to try to do things our own way. And where does that lead us? Well, where did it lead the prodigal son? – to the pigsty.  

It’s the same thing that Adam and Eve did when they ate the fruit. It’s the same thing Moses did when he struck the rock. It’s the same thing that David did when he slept with Bathsheba. It’s the same thing we do every time we choose our own sinful desires. We trade the Father’s loving arms for the pigsty.  

And yet in every one of these stories, there is hope. For there is grace.  

The Father is waiting for us. His arms are wide open. We may know this, but we can so easily get caught up in the guilt and shame of running away that we don’t truly believe it. We doubt that He will forgive us and welcome us back.  

“Repentance should be a beautiful word to Christians.” This is something Pastor J.J. has repeatedly said throughout this sermon series we’re in, and it is something that has really stuck with me. Why do we often not see repentance as a beautiful, wonderful thing? Well, when our view of God is off – our view of repentance will be too. We must see God as our Father, full of grace, waiting with His arms open. The Father that will not only welcome us back when we get there – but actually runs to meet us where we are, bursting full of compassion and grace (verse 20).   

Yes, God hates sin. Yes, He will allow consequences for it. But He hates it because it hurts us. He allows consequences to draw us back to His loving arms and teach us to remain there. When the son returned, the Father didn’t ask him to do anything to prove himself. No, the humble, simple act of returning was all he wanted. It is what our Father wants from us, too. To turn back to Him, time and time again, trusting that His grace will meet us every time – and that it will guide us into deeper relationship and greater righteousness.  

The Father rejoiced because his son was “…dead, and is alive again.” The difference with us is that God our Father didn’t just think we were dead – we were dead. The pigsty we were living in was our slavery to sin and death. But because of His love, He provided a way out through the blood of Jesus. Because of His love, He rejoices when we choose life (Him). No matter how far we’ve run, all we have to do is turn to His open, loving arms – embracing the beauty of repentance.