I’ve heard of losing an animal or some money…but how do you lose a child?
My father in law has a farm with some cows. Occasionally they will find a weak spot in the fence and get out. You would think they would want to go back to where the other cows were, where the barn and the food are…but they don’t. You have to work like crazy to get them back where they need to be. Left on their own they would turn wild, and eventually die.
Such is the case that Jesus presents. He uses three illustrations to make His point: A lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. In all three cases the owner is searching for what was lost. The sheep isn’t trying to get home, the coin doesn’t know that it’s lost, and the son chose to go his own way. In the case of the lost son, the father is standing by the road waiting for any indication that his son wants to come home, and when he sees him, he runs to him and celebrates.
This is how Jesus feels about people who aren’t Christians. Rather, about people who don’t have a personal relationship with Him (because many people consider themselves Christian who don’t measure up to biblical standards). Our Heavenly Father cares so much for us that He is willing to run to our side if we give any indication that we want to come home.. If you compare religions you will find that Christianity is the only one where God comes looking for man. In every other case man pursues God. Forget what you have been told about how you need to “find God”. He already knows where you are, and He is eagerly desiring to embrace you, and forgive whatever it is that you are guilty of. Seriously, He wants you back with Him. All you have to do is turn toward Him, take a step toward Him and He will come running to you. That’s how much God loves us. Every one of us who is part of the kingdom today has had the same experience. We were all lost and homeless, and God found us. This is where we can be slightly different than the brother who was always at home. (I would compare him to a person who grew up in the church and accepted Christ at a very early age, and has always been a Christian). Don’t get me wrong, I wish we could all be Christians from birth…but that isn’t always the case. And because of that, we are able to be humble and look with compassion on a person who “feeling like you don’t belong” or just the general unfamiliarity of it all. Trust me, it goes away quickly…almost in an instant as the power and presence of a loving God take you in His embrace, suddenly you feel “at home” and every other Christian should be celebrating that .
Loving the Lord,
PR