There was a man who had two sons. The younger son came to his father and demanded, “Father, give me the share of your property that belongs to me.” So the father divided his property between his two sons. Not long after, the younger son went away and squandered everything he possessed on reckless living. By the time he was done, he had nothing left. His possessions were exhausted. His friends had abandoned him. Even his self-respect was gone.
To make matters worse, a severe famine fell across the land. The son had nowhere to turn – or so he thought. The only work he could find was doing the most abased thing he could imagine – slopping the pigs.As he labored in the sty, he convinced himself he was of less value than even those pigs. At least they had someone to care for them. He was not even worthy of the pods he was feeding them. He had nothing with which to commend himself to anyone. He was a broken man.
But then he thought of his father and said to himself, “How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’”
So he arose and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Then the father said to his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”(1)
The rebellious son had come to the end of himself. He realized how far he had fallen. He knew that his selfish ambition and sin had led him to failure and destruction. He had exhausted every possession he had and every pleasure he sought, and was left empty and broken – lying in a pig sty. He knew there was only one choice. He could continue to languish in his filth or he could seek his father’s forgiveness.
He knew he didn’t deserve forgiveness. He wasn’t seeking to be restored as a son. He was willing to live out his days as one of his father’s hired workers. But even that would require forgiveness. He had nothing to give in exchange. He had sinned against his father and turned away from him. He knew his father would be well within his rights to now turn away from him. He had absolutely nothing to commend himself to his father!
Picture the son as he approached – broken, hopeless, weary and full of shame. But then … picture the father as he ran to meet his son and accept him with arms out-stretched wide to forgive him and to restore him into relationship as his child.
Picture the son’s rags being exchanged for a fine robe, his once filthy feet now being cradled in his father’s sandals, and the signet ring on his finger showing that he has been restored. Brokenness became wholeness. Hopelessness became hope. Weariness became rest. And shame became acceptance!
Then watch as he enters into a banquet announcing to the world and celebrating his return. What a gift! What unmerited favor! Nothing to deserve that kind of grace! All extended when he came to the Father as he was!
The prophet Isaiah wrote, “All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way. But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on {His Son}.”(2)
As we – His rebellious children – turn toward our heavenly Father, He is there to meet us and accept us with arms out-stretched wide to receive us, to forgive us and to restore us into right relationship with Him as His child. Jesus paid the price so we can come as we are. None of us are too reprehensible to receive His forgiveness, as long as we are not too hard-hearted or proud to come as we are and accept it!
Portion excerpted from Walking With The Master, Ch. 53
(1) Luke 15:11-24
(2) Isaiah 53:6 (NASB)
Come As You Are
Come world of sadness from where ever you’ve been.
Come broken hearted, let the rescue begin.
Come find your mercy, oh sinner come kneel.
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t heal.
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t heal.
So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame.
All who are broken, lift up your face.
Oh wanderer come home, you're not too far.
So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart.
Come as you are.
There's hope for the hopeless, and all those who've strayed.
Come sit at the table, come taste the grace.
There's rest for the weary, rest that endures,
Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't cure.
So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame.
All who are broken, lift up your face.
Oh wanderer come home, you're not too far.
So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart.
Come as you are.
Fall in His arms, come as you are.
There’s joy for the morning, oh sinner be still.
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t heal.
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can’t heal.
So lay down your burdens, lay down your shame.
All who are broken, lift up your face.
Oh wanderer come home, you're not too far.
So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart.
Come as you are.
Written by Benjamin Glover, Matt Maher & David W. Crowder