THE
FATHER-LOVE OF GOD.
Text:- Luke
--------------------------------
The story of the Prodigal Son is, no doubt, one of the most popular themes amongst preachers. Not only the pulpit preachers, but those earnest soul-winners whose only platform is the kitchen floor, the parlour or the public highway. We are all preachers. We all preach by our lives. But I am sure that the story of this young man who left home with his inheritance before-hand is one of the most popular of all Bible narratives. It is a much misunderstood story. Many beautiful themes are woven round its characters and performances. Doubtless many sorrowful souls have found comfort in its relating, but I wonder how many have really and truly plumbed its glorious depths and gathered its richest pearls instead of being satisfied with the surface blessings so readily displayed? Have you fathomed its true and deepest meaning? Have you found in this story some wondrous revelation of God such as no other story could ever tell? Or, having tasted, have you been content to taste? If so, I pray you will now obtain a repast so full and partake of the rich sustaining fulness of this glorious message of love so completely that you may hunger no more.
First of all I want you to notice this discourse is
not a parable. It is a true story. So many have interpreted this story as a
parable that the true purpose of its relating has been hidden. You will see there are three people around
whom the narrative is woven, with the younger son as the chief actor. The father had two sons – the one a
stay-at-home, and the other a wanderer.
The elder was content to dwell at home and to await the inheritance due
to him when his father died, but the younger wanted adventure and change. He wanted to break away from the home ties
and tradition and to see the world for himself.
He wanted life! But he wanted the
privilege which would be his as a son.
He wanted privileges without responsibility – but that never works out
in real life. Now note the character of
the father. He was indulgent. Instead of refusing the younger son his
inheritance which he asked for before he was entitled to it, he apparently
yielded to his request there and then and let him go his way. The father was indulgent. The elder son made no complaint at this
juncture concerning his brother’s request and his father’s concern thereto, and
was probably glad to be rid of the lad, feeling he was a waster and best out of
the way. He was then able to look at all
his father’s treasures and think to himself – “All this is mine by lawful
inheritance. I will get it all and share
it with none”. He was selfish. And so we have (i) an indulgent father; (ii)
a selfish elder son; (iii) a younger brother.
These three figures are the basis of the story.
1.
It is usually conceded that the father typifies God, and the younger
son either a backslider or an unregenerated sinner. Various theories have been put forward as to
who the elder son represents and we must be careful in our interpretation. If we look upon the younger son as a sinner,
unclean, unregenerated, and the elder brother as a Christian we confound
doctrine for God is not the father of the sinful. No one is entitled to call God by the
honourable title of “Father” except he is born of God. So the younger son cannot typify a sinner if
the father typifies God. Assuming the
prodigal is a type of the backslider, who is the elder brother? He is certainly not a full overcomer even if
he were a Christian. Once a soul is
regenerated by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ that soul is
henceforth known as a Christian and a Christian he evermore shall be. He cannot be made a non-Christian or have his
regeneration taken away. But the elder
brother lacked the cardinal characteristic of an overcoming Christian
warrior. He lacked brotherly love! This was, and still is, the outstanding mark
of a Christian – “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples if ye
have love one to another”. John
13:35. Nevertheless, these two sons were
both children of the same father and so it is obvious that there must be a
relationship between the three parties.
What is this relationship? What
is its doctrinal significance and for what do the three parties stand? The discovery of this secret is the key to
the portion of scripture we are now considering and reveals a most wonderful characteristic
of God and a glorious truth dear to the hearts of those who believe in the
Gospel of Grace. We know the law came
from God and was given to man through Moses.
Grace and truth emanate from God and were revealed through Jesus Christ. And these two great doctrinal phases or
dispensational revelations are from the same source – God. The law came from God. Grace comes from God. And the two covenants that God made with man
– the covenant of the law and the Covenant of Grace are shown to us in the
lives of these two sons and their effect upon us. Let us see how this works out in the story.
2.
The elder brother typifies those who claim to keep the law of God. The first covenant that God made with
man. It also typifies the law. They claim that by their works they qualify
for God’s blessings. Listen to his
words:- “Lo, these many years do I serve thee, NEITHER transgressed I at any time
they commandment”. Hearken to his
self-righteous oration. “I keep the law
– I do no wrong – I live a good life, etc”.
Ever met that kind of person? Yet
this elder brother is not only a person but a type of dispensation. The elder brother had no merry-making. Just toil and service, toil and service. And the law, hard and unbending, offers life
by works if any man can do the works meet for salvation. And see, moreover, how hardly the law deals
with the erring. Mercy? Nay! Love? NEVER!.
Nothing else but condemnation.
Yet the father does not deny the elder son’s claims. The law of God which came from God, is holy,
just and good. It demands obedience or
imposes punishment. It never
pardons. It promotes self-righteousness
which is covetousness and idolatry as our brother Paul discovered. But He Who gave the law preached before the
law, through Abraham, the gospel of redeeming grace. The just and righteous claims of the law are
upheld, even as the father in the story acknowledges to the son – All that I
have is thine”. The law must be upheld
and through Jesus Christ our Lord, God is able to uphold it and yet justify the
ungodly. Through Christ’s vicarious
death God maintains His justice whilst justifying the ungodly and manifests His
wondrous grace in pardoning the erring sinner.
The youth went direct to his father.
Not through the law, but through faith depending on his father’s
grace. You may do that. You may be a sinner, unclean, undone. You may have sought reconciliation with God
through the deeds of the law and found it impossible. You may have sought restoration to fellowship
and communion by what you can do or have done, but never, never will you find
peace that way. Go direct to God in
faith. Believe in His Grace and He will
satisfy the elder brother as He did through Jesus Christ by Whom the law is
fulfilled in every one who believes and thus trusting in His Grace you will be
delivered from all adversity, clothed upon with His Divine Righteousness ,
given authority as a son and your feet will be shod with the symbol of
restoration to the station of life to which God has called you. The law came by Moses, BUT, grace and truth
come by Jesus Christ. The law has its
part to play. It does it in revealing
our weaknesses. But the law has no power
to redeem. Grace not only redeems but
satisfies the law. The elder brother
spoke to his father of the younger son’s misdeeds. Did the father deny them? No. But he silenced the man by revealing his love
and wonderful grace.
3.
It has pleased God to reveal Himself to man through His Own dear Son
Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Him we
learn of God’s love to man. Through Him
we learn of God’purpose in creating and redeeming man. Through Him we learn that God desires us for
sons and daughters, to be children of the Most High God. Of all the titles ascribed unto God none is
so tender and so beautiful as the title “Father”. He is Father to all them that believe. Father to all who have been born again –
Father in very truth and very love. The
Fatherhood of God is one of the greatest discoveries we make when we become His
children. We reverence God because of
what He is. We love Him because of Who He is.
He is our Father. And He never
forgets that. His Father-love to us is
so great it can only be known by experience and its beauty is only revealed to
us as we realise its compassion. Now in
the story before us the father had two sons.
He loved them both. One was a
diligent son the other was carefree and gay.
But they were both sons of the same father. He loved them both, and when one decided he
would like to spend his life away from home, though it pained him to let his
son go, the indulgent parent made it possible.
And off he went. With his wealth
in hand the young fellow departed. Away
from home, from peace and security into a distant land. He soon found his sudden acquired wealth was not
a bottomless purse or an eternally-productive goldmine, but became a trouble
rather than a blessing. Through its
possession he had left behind the only things worth-while. Home gone, friends
gone (besides those who only called themselves “friends”!); substance gone,
character gone (tragic loss indeed!) and
the only thing he had not lost apparently, was his hope. It has been said that “Hope springs eternal in the human breast” Be
that true or not, it is about all that this young man retained. He had lost his self-respect as is shewn by
his willingness to feed swine. To Jews a
swine is unclean. To tend them was an
awful, disgraceful job, but to desire their food indicated how terrible low
this young man had fallen. And all
because he was dis-satisfied with his father’s home. And though he lost all else but hope, hope
was the cable that brought back his reason.
He began to think! Beloved, when
you are in trouble, when it seems all is lost and you can’t hold out another
step or minute, think! Think of what you had before the trouble
brewed. Think of the days when all was
well – call to mind the goodness and mercies of God as that young man, away in
a foreign land, bethought himself of home.
You have probably enjoyed rich blessings with your Father in His
house, His joy once filled your breast,
but having slipped away, you would seek the pleasures of this world in the vain
hope that they would satisfy you as they satisfy the ungodly. The ungodly can enjoy the pleasures of this
world – you can’t! The swine could enjoy
their husks – you couldn’t! The young
man famished. Starving. And then he made
a decision. He made a decision before
and acted upon it. He will act
again. And without further ado he says
“I will arise and go to MY FATHER”. That
was his first decision now his reason was returned. He would no longer sit there in misery and
woe – he would arise and go. Go
where? Why, to “my father”. How dare he? Pride or shame should surely be a
stumbling-block ? Had he not turned his
back on his dear old dad? Oh, but my
father will understand! I know he
will understand! Oh yes, he loves me – I
will arise and go! Backslider,
have you been kept back from God through false pride? He knows all about your failures, your sins
and your foolishness, so trying to hide it is an utter waste of time and
loss. Might as well do as the young man
did! He went back to his father. Will you come back to yours?
4
It maybe you know this elder brother? Candidly, you want to ignore
him. Forget about him. I know that elder brother quite well. I have met him. But the young man of the story did not say he
would go to his elder brother but to his father! How many there are today, living in sorrow
because they sought the elder brother instead of father! Everyone of us needs sympathy and love and
kindness. Now note. When that young man was yet a great way off
his father saw and had compassion on him and ran, and fell on his neck and
kissed him! Why his father saw him
before he realised he was anywhere about!
And what is more, he was immediately welcomed and received! He did not even need to blurt out his sorry
tale of woe. His father sought him as
much as he sought his father – and methinks, more! – and the father performed
the act of reconciliation. He kissed
him! Can you even imagine what that
would mean? Oh when one feels a loved
one is angry, when differences fill the air and one expects a reprimand but
gets a kiss instead – well, could YOU understand such love? He was kissed – he was pardoned! He had shewn his desire by his act of
returning. Quickly he was clothed upon
with the finest robe; the ring of authority was placed upon his finger and the
shoes of restored sonship were quickly placed upon his feet, his humiliation
thus being taken away. A feast was spread and the hearts were merry. The father-love saw only his son restored.
4.
But the elder brother did not like this. Would he have given him the best robe? Nay, a cast-off garment was surely as much as
a scapegoat brother, returned in disgrace, could hope to have. Would he have given him a ring? Goodness, no!
A ring for a wastrel? Shoes? ‘Tis not meet for servants to wear
shoes. His brother, no doubt, but not
deserving of the name! See, beloved, how
differently the brother acted from the father!
Had the younger son gone back quietly and sought out his brother with a
hope that he would help him back to favour with his father, it is quite
possible he would have been sent about his business. Maybe even completely scorned. But he went to HIS FATHER. And how many Christians there are who are
breaking their hearts in the swine-fields, pining for home, yearning for
fellowship, weeping, weeping----weeping, because they went to the elder
brother! You know what I mean! I’ve met it and it’s a detestable thing which
I hate! Some poor wanderer – God only
knows how they have suffered and with what temptations they’ve been tried! –
passes one day by the old church door.
The lines on the face are drawn – there is a furtive look in the eyes. The heart is palpitating, and the fingers
twitch. Queries fill the mind. Dare I return? What will they say? And the selfish older brother scorns the poor
backslider, whose only reward for seeking restoration is increased remorse. “They” say – You can never get back where you
were before. You will never again have
the same fellowship with God. You can
never again get back to that plane you knew before you fell” and with such-like
self-righteous, self-taught errors, they increase yet more and more the sorrow
and despair of the poor, forlorn, broken-hearted backslider.
Shame! Shame! Shame!!! Self-righteous
Pharisees. Out of the way. Let the backslider return to his father. He has REAL LOVE. Love: I tell you. Real, honest, true, abiding LOVE! What is the love of any man or woman compared
to the love of God? The church my “graciously”
receive you back BUT they do not forget your failures. They do not overlook your follies. They want to know the “why” and “wherefore”
and so on of it all, but GOD, the One against Whom you have sinned declares – “Only
acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord they
God”. Oh come back to your Father. Come back to God. He does not want to hear all about it so long
as you are truly sorry. He is waiting
for you. His love, His grace and all –compassionate
love is being poured out for you. Do not
let any elder brother keep you from your Father. You do not need penitent forms or
probationary periods. You need only a
heart of repentance and this FAITH IN GOD’S FATHER-LOVE FOR YOU. Oh come to Him now – to HIM. To HIM, I say, and coming you will receive
from Him the love, the joy, the peace, the gladness the sweetest saint on earth
can never give to you, for it is not through the law, it is not through works,
its through God’s grace and love and through Him alone.
Leslie
Barrowcliff.
12/2/1939