By Darlene Winans
Recently, I re-read the story of the Prodigal Son, found in Luke Chapter 15. If you’ve been a believer for any length of time, you’ve heard the story. You’ve read the story. And re-read it. You’ve heard sermons on it. And podcasts. You may have even come to the Lord upon hearing a sermon on the Prodigal Son.
But for as many times as I’ve read and heard this story, God can still reveal new things in His word, amen? Something new was revealed to me in reading the story again. So before I tell you what was revealed to me, let’s read the story again together, in Luke 15:11-24 (NIV):
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
I’ve shared before, on mission trips and on IWM’s Facebook Live Prayer, I have three sons, and none of them are serving God – yet. I always say “yet” because of the hope I have in the promises in God’s word, that my children, who were raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord, who were saved and baptized but have wandered away from God – my children will one day be saved and return to the Father. This is why I love the story of the Prodigal Son, or as my NIV Bible says in the heading, “The Parable of the Lost Son.” And that’s what I have, lost sons. For now. I’ve studied the story, meditated on it, prayed the words of the story over my children. . . and yet, upon reading it once again, God, who draws me into intimate relationship with Him, saw fit to reveal yet another secret or mystery found in His word.
Let me set the background for this new revelation. We celebrated Christmas with one of my three sons and had a wonderful time together. He was in jail for a year and a half and was released just a month or two before Christmas. Before going to jail, he was self-centered, inconsiderate, and did not like hugs or affection. But after his release and during this visit, he was kinder, gentler, and more affectionate, even initiating hugs! He looked happier and healthier than I’d seen him in a long time. I wondered if a Christian ministry had visited with my son during his jail time, or if the jail had counseling services or even a guard who had a positive influence on him. Whoever or whatever was the source of this change, my son had changed for the better, and I rejoice in that! Praise the Lord!
It was a week or so after our Christmas visit that I re-read the Prodigal Son story, and when I read verse 20, it flew off the page to me:
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
Even after reading and hearing this story again and again, I always had in mind that the Father was standing there, waiting for the son to come home again, and it was the son who started running to the Father. But no, the Father came running to the son! He came running to us! He came running to me! And as I was marveling at that thought, the Lord spoke: “He’s closer than you think.”
Although the son was still a long way off, the Father saw him, had compassion, and took off running to the son! He’s closer than you think. Even now, the Father is running to MY son! He’s closer than you think!
Friend, maybe you have a relative or close friend who is lost. I hope this message has encouraged you to not give up hope. Keep praying the promises in God’s word, for He is so faithful! Because your friend or relative is closer to the Father than you think. Amen!
