Lost but Found
By Jessica Van Roekel
“And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 ESV
I stood in the middle of the mess and shook my head. Drawers were turned inside out. Stacks of paper lay scattered on the floor. All household tasks were on hold. The kids could wait. I needed to find my marriage license fast. I couldn’t renew my driver’s license without it, and I had turned the house inside and out looking for it. Right before my husband called to tell me he paid for a new copy at the courthouse, I found it in the bottom of a filing cabinet stored in the attic. Eureka! What was lost was found!
Have you ever searched for something, knowing it was specifically put away somewhere? My family knows that when I put something in a “safe” spot, it’s so secure that it’s lost. But when I go on a hunt for an important “saved” item, I’m reminded how the Lord searches and looks for the lost. Jesus used parables, which are short stories, to teach a lesson or make a point. In Luke 15, he used three stories to present the purpose of his earthly ministry: to show God’s desire to save people spiritually so they can have a relationship with him. In the Parable of The Prodigal Son, we discover the consequences of going our own way and the father’s heart for the lost son.
The parable opens with a son asking for his inheritance and then leaving on a journey to a far country. The prodigal son wasted his money on people and things that brought little satisfaction. It was like throwing money to the wind and hoping for a return on investment. Eventually, he became jealous of pigs because they had more than he did. Too often, we go our own way because we believe our way brings satisfaction. We chase after pleasures to be free from authority and restraint. Instead, we find ourselves in a pit of despair and destruction created through reckless living. Our way leads to greater dissatisfaction. The prodigal son in this parable is a picture of us when we rebel against God’s standards and love. His love brings freedom, not to do as we please but as he wills. A life pursuing self-motivated pleasure looks like freedom but is bondage in disguise.
When we come to the end of ourselves, like our friend in this parable, we can experience disillusionment, grief, and regret. What we long for does not fulfill us. We can grieve over time and energy lost. Regret can prevent us from meeting or returning to the Lord, who can forgive and redeem. Like the prodigal son who decided his father might accept him back as a hired servant, we can approach God in the same way. Our regrets tell us we’ll never be accepted as sons or daughters, so we can only hope for partial forgiveness. But Jesus goes on to show the Father’s heart in the remaining verses.
It can be hard to accept the depth of God’s love for us when we have walked so far away from him and chosen ways of living that directly oppose his heart. We need a humble heart to admit our wrongdoing and a willingness to live for God’s ways. The father in this parable stands watching and waiting, just as God watches and waits for us. God’s great love causes us to be on his mind, and longs for our return. He has great compassion for those who are lost or who have gone astray. Then, when we do return, he receives us with love and compassion. He gives us full rights as his children. These are available to all who look to him, respond to his invitation, and return to him. His joy overflows, and he welcomes us with open arms.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Do you find yourself lost in the pursuit of your own way? Ultimately, it leads us further away from him, and we find ourselves lost. Because of God’s mercy and love, he waits for us with open arms, ready to receive us with compassion as his beloved son or daughter. No matter where you are, there’s always a way home. Follow the prodigal son’s example and return to the Lord. He stands waiting with open arms to restore you as a treasured son or daughter.
Further Reading:
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Manuel Faba Ortega
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