Coming To Ourselves

In Luke chapter 15, Jesus is recorded telling several stories about things that were lost and how important it was for them to be found.  In verses 11 through 32 we read the famous story of the "prodigal son."  We all know it well!  The younger of two sons comes to his father, demands his inheritance early, the father gives it to him and the young man leaves the comforts of his father's home to live the wild life, squandering all he has.  The story has been mentioned a few times at church in the past month.  In fact, our pastor referred to this story just last Sunday.  His point was that as the father in this story, we should be passionate about those who have run away from God.  When they return we should embrace them just as the father did.  The next day I really wrestled with this.  While I know this is a truth, I wrestled in my heart wondering if I could really forgive like that.  Recently, some very close friends have been hurt by others in the "body of Christ."  I must say, in these situations I have hurt for my friends and been very angry with those who were so hurtful.  I began to wonder the age old questions of why and how supposedly Christian people could be so destructive of others.  Humans tend to hurt one another.  I know this.  I've been on both sides of that coin.  As much as I never want to hurt anyone, I know in the past I have.  So, I can't really point a finger at these people as if I'm perfect or something, because I'm not.  At the same time, the pain they have caused people I'm close to, well, it "goes all over me."  So I was wondering if I could "embrace them as the father embraced his son when he returned home.  In praying about this and seeking the Lord's help in the matter, He revealed some things to me that I found very interesting.  It's amazing that a subject such as forgiveness, as much as we talk and preach and share about it, there is always something new I'm learning about it. 

First and foremost, God reminded me that when we forgive it does not mean that we no longer have feelings.  Just because we forgive does not mean that we won't still feel the pain of the harm done.  The father in this story (who represents God) hurt when his son ran off with his money and blew it all on wild living.  More than anything, He hurt when the son was out of relationship with Him and the rest of the family.  Yet in His pain, the Father forgave and hoped that the son would return.  We know this because He was watching and waiting for the boy!  This brings me to the second point...

Have you ever noticed in this story that the Father did not follow his son begging him to return, pointing out the errors of his ways, or anything like that?  He let him go.  He let him go and He hoped and waited for his return.  Wow!  The Father knew until the son came to his senses, he wouldn't return willingly.  As much as it pained Him, He let His son waller in the pig pen until the boy came to himself.  Did you know that's exactly how Jesus described what happened to the young man?  Look at this passage closely, especially verse 17.  It says in the New King James Version that the young man "came to himself."  Then he returned!

Now, don't misunderstand me.  I'm not saying we should never confront the lost or Christians who have wronged us.  Scripture is clear that we are to be the "light unto the world."  We are to "go and make disciples..."  Paul says, how will they know unless they are told and how will they be told unless we go and speak (paraphrasing)?  As far as issues with others, Jesus taught that if we go to the altar and remember an issue we have with a brother, we need to go find them and try to make it right.  I truly believe we should be sharing the Lord with others.  Furthermore, when there is a problem with someone in the "body of Christ" we should go to that person and try to make it right.  We do have to remember that in both instances we are called to share the truth IN LOVE.  Often the fact that many just want to share the truth and neglect the love turns off the non-believer and wounds the believer.  However, if we are truly following God and His Spirit - the Spirit who knows both the heart of God and man - then if by His leading and in His love we go to others and they refuse to listen, all we can do at that point is what the Father did in this story!  There may even be times God wants us to just pray for the person and wait for them to come around because He knows that our efforts to chase them down will not do any good until the person "comes to themselves."  How liberating that is!  To know that as long as I follow the Spirit's leading in these situations, I can rest in God's peace.  Sure, I may still hurt.  I may long for and wait for restoration.  We should hope and pray for such.  But I can't - nor do I have to force anybody to "come home."  I can love and forgive and hope and pray as the Father did for the return of his lost son. 

Who are you waiting on?  Don't give up!   Keep praying!  Remain sensitive to the Spirit's leading. 

Maybe you are the one in the pig pen who needs to come to himself.  More importantly, know the Father is waiting with open arms for us.  When we do realize how much we need Him, He is waiting.  Come home!