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In his gospel in the New Testament, Luke relates Jesus' story about a man and his two sons, which we call "The Prodigal Son" (Luke chapter 15 verses 11 to 32). Jesus used simple stories (called PARABLES) to teach and illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. The word "prodigal" means "wastefully extravagant" as a way of living. The younger son goes away and, in a truly scandalous manner, spends half his father's money; but when he falls on hard times he creeps back home, not knowing what will be in store for him....
In this story, the father represents God, our heavenly Father. The younger son represents people who like the material things of the world but realise that they are sinners (as is everyone) but repent. The older son represents those who think they are so good that they don't need any forgiveness, neither do they feel inclined to welcome the "lost" who have been forgiven and restored by God the Father, through His Son. (Jesus, crucified on the Cross of Calvary, was a once-and-for-all sacrifice for the sins of the world - YOUR sin and MINE). See Romans chapter 3 verses 22 and 23: "God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all; everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence". Also see the first book of John chapter 1 verses 8 to 10: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. But if we confess our sins to God, He will keep His promise and do what is right; He will forgive our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing. If we say that we have not sinned, we make God out to be a liar, and His word is not in us".
The story is therefore as follows:
1. A father gladly and willingly gave his younger son his share of the inheritance, even though it was as if he wished his father dead. God gives a variety of good things to all people when He chooses, regardless of whether they care about Him or believe in Him.
2. The son went away and squandered the money on reckless living, so that eventually there was none left. He ended up hungry and alone, looking after pigs. He wasn't expecting the famine which hit the land he was living in. Even the bean pods the pigs ate looked good. Natural disasters can come suddenly.
3. He came to his senses then and felt ashamed. His father's servants always had plenty to eat! He thought that maybe he could be hired as one of them, since he didn't imagine that his father could ever again think of him as his son. He wouldn't be "good enough to love". God the Father made everyone and loves everyone.
4. The son set off for home. Amazingly, his father was looking out for him (as he undoubtedly did with hope each day) and saw him coming "when he was still a long way off". God the Father "searches" for us, every day without fail, to see whether we will "come home".
5. Instead of being furious and disappointed and giving him a good scolding, his father threw his arms around him and kissed him! There was no question of him being "just a servant" now. Not only that, but the father THREW A PARTY for family and friends. And there was a FEAST! He had even kept a fattened calf to be slaughtered and cooked for the longed-for celebration meal. God the Father welcomes any of US back, however far we have gone astray.
6. The reaction of his elder brother, out working in the fields as the party music started up, was far from showing welcoming delight. He thought he had been "good" all along but he wasn't given a party. But of course his father loved him too and shared everything he owned with him. The celebration was because his younger brother was LOST but was now FOUND, DEAD but now ALIVE AGAIN, just as we are when we believe in the gift of God's Son and His sacrifice for each one of us... eternal life in paradise there was the taking.
Instead of criticising those who are rebelling against God, followers of Jesus should be filled with compassion and do everything they can to tell them how they too can enjoy life as a "child of God", no matter what they have done in the past. We should be filled with delight to know that the Lord is merciful, and forgives and restores them and us.
