There is a very well-known story in the Bible about a man who had two sons. One of the sons left home, did as he pleased, and then came back home when everything went wrong. The father welcomed his returning son and forgave him. It is known as the story of “The Prodigal Son,” and you can read it in Luke 15:11-3211And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. 29And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (Luke 15:11‑32). But now I am going to tell you about another father with two sons. This father’s two sons were little boys. Timmy was five years old and Stevie was three years old.
One day Timmy told his father that he was going to run away. His reason was that he was having trouble with Stevie, his little brother. Timmy and his father found a suitcase, and his father helped him pack his belongings, putting in some books because he might want to look at them. He left his room, and his father said he would walk up the street a little way with him.
But the suitcase was heavy, and Timmy asked his father to carry it for him. His father said “No,” because he would be going back home, and Timmy should get all the practice he could now of carrying it alone.
As they were passing a fast-food place, his father bought Timmy a hamburger. Since he couldn’t eat it all, his father said to put the rest of the hamburger in the suitcase, as that would be all the food he had with him.
Back on the road again, instead of continuing on his journey, Timmy started back towards home, still hauling the heavy suitcase. They turned into the house, and his father went inside, but Timmy went around to the back.
Do you think his father forgot all about Timmy now? No. Both his father and his mother were watching from the window. They saw him open the suitcase, take out the books and look at them. They saw him when he got up and walked around. Then he came into the house and said he had decided to give his little brother another chance. So the suitcase was unpacked, and the runaway was home!
These two fathers in the stories give us a picture of our heavenly Father and His love and care for us. Sometimes he allows us to do as we please and even make wrong choices, but it is always with the desire that we will return to Him and His love and offer of forgiveness.
Although Timmy was never far from his father, yet somewhere on his runaway journey he changed his mind about his brother and decided to go home. When God sees that we are truly sorry for our sins and willing to change our minds and ways, He too is always ready to forgive, take us back and wash us clean.
ML-10/25/2009