In my Dad’s book Someday, he wrote that the father valued the prodigal son’s return back home v. the money and time he squandered.
It’s clear to see that the father was elated to have his son back home and restored in spirit. A lot of times, we focus on the redemption of the son, which is awesome in itself … but more often than not we lose sight of of how his redemption came to be.
Even as a parable, how amazing is it that deep down, it was the previous knowledge and experience of his father’s loving character that allowed the prodigal son to even think about coming back home? To know that even if he ended up a servant (which he wouldn’t), his father would not throw him out?
His father had so much love and compassion for his son that even while his boy went about foolishly throwing away his inheritance and making bad life choices, he longed for him to just return. While his brother considered him undeserving, his father embraced him unconditionally.
The father in the parable freely gave his son his inheritance, and God gives us free will to make our own decisions. God would love for us to use this in great ways, but even if we don’t, He is always waiting for us to return to Him. He values us knowing this fact above us being perfect.
This kind of radical love and forgiveness is life changing and unparalleled. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, it is forever yours.
John 1:12-13
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.