Going Home
“But while
he 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.“ Luke
15:20 NIV
What a
beautiful picture of steadfast love! All the while that his son was off squandering
his inheritance, the father is checking to see if his son is returning home.
The father never stops longing for his son, never ceases to want a healing of
their relationship. When the son finally does appear, the father holds no
condemnation towards him. His heart is
simply full of love and forgiveness and he can’t wait to embrace his errant
son, rushing to him, and hugging and kissing him in the joy of reunion.
Jesus tells
the Parable of the Prodigal Son so that we can know that our heavenly Father is
always ready to forgive us when we return to him. It is not a begrudging
acceptance but one filled to the brim with celebration and love. He is not
looking back to our past sins or demanding restitution from us, but rather He
is enfolding us into his everlasting arms with warm smiles and whispers of
comfort and reassurance. I am so blessed to know the magnitude of God’s love
for me.
