Over the past few weeks we have looked at the animation movie, The
Incredibles, to find relevant spiritual messages that apply to us today.
We have learned that even though Super Heroes
have secret ID’s, none of us can hide anything from God. He knows exactly who we are, even our
innermost secrets.
We have learned that just as the Super Heroes
became frustrated because the world never stays saved, God experiences the same
emotion when His creation continues to rebel against Him. Thank God He is patient with us and gives us
many chances.
We have learned that we need to be careful not
to buy into the lie: “I still got
time!” Even though Mr. Incredible said
it three times and was late to his wedding, he still was able to get married. But if we aren’t spiritually ready for
Christ’s return to fetch His Bride, the Church, we won’t be allowed into the
wedding banquet. Once He returns, it’s
too late to make things right.
And we have also learned that Jesus went from
being a Super to a Villain. In less
than a week on His return to Jerusalem, the people of His day changed their
tune about who He was because they didn’t trust the Real Jesus. The Real Jesus came to establish His Kingdom
in Heaven, not on earth. The Real Jesus
lives and works within the hearts of those who do trust Him.
So today we want to look at what God feels is the most important
characteristic about Him – He wants us to see the side of Him that makes
Him different than any other god out there.
Just as the Super’s came back to protect and defeat the evil robot
because that’s what they were created to do, and more importantly, loved to do,
God came back to protect and defeat the evil that haunts us.
And if there is one thing God wants us to see
about Him, it is a side to Him that should draw us closer to Him – should have
us applauding Him.
Luke 15: 11-31 shows us that side.
There are many different avenues that I could take on this parable, but
I want to focus on one.
I don’t want to look exclusively at the mistakes of the Prodigal
Son. We all have squandered away the physical
and spiritual talents that God has purposed for us to use for building His
Kingdom.
I don’t want to look at the attitude of the brother. We all have a tendency to become jealous and
claim, “That’s not fair!” especially when someone else is getting all the glory
and credit for something we have done.
What I want to focus on is the Father’s reaction to his son’s return. "But while he (the son) 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 though the son had squandered away everything that his father had
given him, even though the son had wasted the years of
prosperity that the father had worked long and hard to achieve, even though the son had made many immoral
decisions, the father longed for his son’s return. He longed for the day he would see his son
again.
The father knew that the son had a change of heart, and had forgiven
him before he ever spoke a word.
He knew that his son was truly sorry for the
mess he had made of his life. He knew his son was repentant and wanted to
start a new life.
How did he know this? He knew this because his son came back.
Then his son spoke – "Father I
have sinned against heaven and against you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son."
He didn’t make excuses for his behavior. He didn’t justify his actions or blame anyone
for his mistakes. He humbly said,
“Dad, I messed up, and I’m willing to accept what you want me to do.”
The misconception of a prodigal is that he/she is someone who is a
black sheep in the family - someone who goes off and does wild and crazy
things to rebel against the authority of his/her parents. And because people have this misconceived idea
they tend to think they are okay and don’t need to change.
When I was teaching in VA, I carpooled with some other ladies from
WV. I remember conversations we had in
particular that dealt with Church and Heaven. One of the young ladies said countless times,
“If our principal, who is a Christian, can make it into Heaven, certainly God
won’t keep me out.” (She didn’t care for the principal). She also said, “I enjoy going to church and God
knows I am a good person. Therefore, I
don’t think He’ll keep me out of Heaven because I’m living with and having
relations with a man who’s not my husband.
Those sins aren’t going to keep me out of Heaven.”
You might be thinking I’m making this up to prove my point. But I’m not.
I’m not exaggerating anything.
She really believed that she could have the best
of both worlds. She believed that God overlooks the small sins,
not the big ones like murder and stealing, just as long as the small sins don’t
hurt others. She truly believed she was not a prodigal - she
didn’t hurt anyone – “she wasn’t a prostitute strung out on drugs and alcohol.”
But the definition of a prodigal is not based upon human standards and
comparisons, but rather upon God’s. And when we look at ourselves in God’s mirror,
we really should see that we are all prodigals – any sin, big or small, makes
us a prodigal. You and I are the “prodigal”
until we return home – for good.
But the good news for any prodigal: God is the Father in this story. God is the father who anxiously awaits – who is
looking out the window everyday – to see if His prodigal child is
returning. God is the father whose heart aches as He knows
His child is living loosely and wasting years. God is the father who goes running to his child
upon return.
Other god’s are angry and damning – a person can never live up to the
expectations set by them. But God, the Real God, the Father of Jesus, the Father
of all whom return to Him, is a loving God who welcomes home anyone who comes
to his/her senses.
The Real God is not in the “gotcha” business. No, He’s in the “running to meet you with open
arms” business, the “wrap His arms around you and greet you with
a kiss” business, the “compassion, love, and mercy” business.
But there is one thing about this Real God, He doesn’t force anyone to
return to Him. He blesses you (knowing you will squander it)
and sends you on your way with everything you need to survive on your own. Yet, despite wasting His money, His property,
and His resources, He still welcomes you Home like nothing ever happened. He still welcomes you home when you come to your
senses and say, “Dad, I messed up, and I’m willing to accept what you want me
to do. I’m willing to accept your risen
Son as my salvation. I’m willing to be
your servant.”
What a glorious day that is for God when a prodigal realizes, “I’m
better off with Dad.”
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