Living a 220 life

The Prodigal Son (Part 4 of 4)

May 28, 2010 on 12:41 pm | In Lordship, fellowship, humility | No Comments

My friends, the final character we’ll look at isn’t actually in the story but rather is the story teller; Jesus. In part 1 we looked at the younger son who represents lost people through open disobedience to God. In part 2 we looked at the older son who represents lost people through self absorption over being “good” or “religious”. Remember, all people are born lost. We all fall into one of two categories: We either go to the left and live a life of open sin like the younger son or we go to the right and live a life trying to “earn” God’s love like the older son. Both are sin and both are lost. In part 3 we looked at the Father who represents our loving and Graceful God. Our God who reaches out to both sons in a symbolic effort to bring all mankind back into communion with Him. In part 4 we’re looking at the story teller and what He’s trying to accomplish through this story.

The first aspect about Jesus in this story we must understand is who He’s trying to reach and why. At the beginning of Luke 15 we see the Pharisees and scribes complaining about Jesus receiving tax collectors and sinners around Him. In response to this complaint 15:3 says, “So He spoke this parable to them”. Therefore, Jesus’s primary audience for this story isn’t the younger son but rather the older son. All too often the younger son gets the attention through this story because his sin is open to see and is rather blatent. The older son looks like the good son and so fly’s under the radar. The Pharisees and scribes were the very people the older son represents…Folks, many people in our churches today are the very people the older son represents. Jesus was telling this story for them. Jesus was trying to tell them they were lost and didn’t know it; they thought they were the good son who “earned” something from the Father. My friends, I beg you to look at your life and ask the Lord to reveal if you’re living an older son life. If you are, Jesus is telling this parable for YOU! Not to condemn you but to find you.

Jesus delivered this story to the religious elite about the religious elite. Think about what He’s saying and doing here. Jesus is addressing someone like a Billy Grahm or a Dr. Dobson here and telling him that he’s lost. (I’m not saying Billy Grahm or Dr. Dobson are lost, I don’t know them that well) That is huge. Jesus is telling him that noone is without need of the Father. My friends, unfortunately we can fall into the same trap as the Pharisees. As we grow in the church we can all too easily begin thinking we’ve got it all figured out. Usually this arrogance begins to creep in when we see younger sons but it creeps in none the less. We’ve become proficient at hiding this arrogance in false humility because we’ve learned through the church that we should be humble if we’re to be good “christians”. The lesson Jesus is teaching us in the parable is this: The most important aspect of life is close fellowship with the Father simply to be in His presence, not to get His inheritence. Close fellowship with the Father results in a deep love for people. (John 13:34-35) Do you love other people? Not just your friends and family but all people. Here’s a better question, Do other people think you love them? In other words, are you viewed in your community as a loving person? I’ve met a lot of good people in the church who really don’t enjoy other people, let alone love them. Folks, if you’re living a life void of joy, if you’re living a life void of love for others, you may be a lost older son.

Here’s the beauty of Jesus the story teller. Jesus told this particular crowd two stories prior to this one. He told them about the lost sheep and then the lost coin. In both stories someone went out in search for the lost item. This concept is carried over into the story of the lost sons. Folks, the Father is coming out to find us. Both sons had the Father come out to find them. If you’re living a life without close, deep, and intimate fellowship with the Father I’m telling you that He’s searching for you right now! If you aren’t experiencing a passionate relationship with God you’re lost. It’s ok to be lost as long as you realize you’re lost. The Father welcomes you back with open arms. Friends, I beg you, please, consider your current position and run to the Father. AMEN!