Rights & Responsibilities Restored

I was thinking about the parable of the prodigal son today (Luke 15). Most of us know the story. There was a man with two sons. One of them got tired of living the life his father wanted. He wanted to do his own thing, go his own way. He exercised his God given right to choose. He asked his father for his share of the inheritance. The father gave it to him. I know it had to break his heart, but the father could not ignore the son’s right to choose.

The son took his share and went to a far off land. Just as a side note, anytime we go anywhere without God we are in a far off land. The son used his money in wild living. The Bible says riotous living. I imagine he had one heck of a party. When the money was gone so were his friends. About that time there was a famine. No one would give him anything. He took a job feeding pigs. Now, to the Jew that was just about as low as you get, pigs were unclean animals. He was starving and soon the pig swill started to look good to him. The Bible says that he finally “came to his senses” and realized that the hired hands at his father’s farm ate better than he did. So he decided that he would return and tell his Dad that he had sinned and wasn’t worthy anymore to be called a son, but could he work as a hired hand. To most of us we would agree that this would be fair. After all he had done all these things so he shouldn’t be restored until he had “paid the penalty”. But what was the Dad’s reaction.

I find the father’s response amazing. He had never stopped loving his son. We are told that he saw his son far off coming home. He had been watching for his son, expecting him to return home. Most of us – seeking justice – would have let the son grovel for awhile. He needed to suffer for the pain and heartache he caused. We would have had him start at the bottom of the business to prove his loyalty and love. But that’s not what the father did. When he saw his son far off he ran to him with his forgiveness. Isn’t that just like the heart of a “true” father. The son asked forgiveness. The father called for the signet ring, his sign of authority, the best robes to wear and called for a feast. All because his son who had been lost was now found. His son who had been dead was now alive. The party began.

You see, too often we want justice to be inflicted on the sinner. We want to see them punished as the law requires. We forget that to the man or woman who repents and turns to Jesus, justice has already been served. That is why Jesus died, to take our punishment, to pay the price for our sin. In our zeal for justice, we cast aside the only sacrifice that could ever cover man’s sin. The death and resurrection of Jesus.

In this parable, maybe you are the father, or maybe the son. I know in my life I have been both. Jesus has paid the price for what you have done. However, for his sacrifice to mean anything in your life, you first have to admit your sin and accept his sacrifice. It’s still free will. Once you do, you are restored to full son ship, with all the rights and responsibilities.