 | This is part 2 of a 3 part series by John Clark. For part 1, click here. This week, I want to share about how we can see in the parable the father’s steadfast endurance as he waits for his son’s return; this is an incomparable mere shadow of our Heavenly father’s patience with all of us, saved and unsaved. As I turn back to the father of the parable, you can see a slightly comparable attitude of patience with his son. |
"So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him." - Luke 15:20
In the above verse you can see that the father was watching expectantly for his son’s return although he had no assurance of this ever occurring. If the father had disowned him as the culture dictated, he would probably not have noticed the son’s return from afar. It was only an earnest love and desire for his son that kept this father eagerly diligent. The loving attitude of this fictional person would have still surprised Jesus’ listeners, considering the shame inflicted upon the father’s name. Unlike the father in the story, our Father is not limited by time and distance as He so graciously demonstrates His patient love for us. Through this entire mess we made, God displays a supernatural patience with us. He sees and is the beginning and the end, and everything beyond. He had a plan set from before time began, one that would remedy the problem of sin and simultaneously cause the most unimaginable pain and anguish in the history of everything.
Because God foreknew His plan of redemption, He has displayed and continues to display His unfathomable patience with mankind.
"What is this plan?" you may ask. It is His plan of redemption. It is that moment when God stepped out of His eternal glory, and became a flesh and blood man for our sake (Phil. 2:6-8). It is when Jesus, God the Son, Who saw the sin and its effect on mankind from the beginning of creation, yet never experienced it, voluntarily took all of our sin upon Himself (2 Cor. 5:21). The culmination of this plan is vividly portrayed on the cross as Jesus experienced the weight and condemnation of all of mankind’s sin, and the separation from His beloved Father that occurred as divine judgement and mercy were finally and permanently fulfilled through His death (Rom. 6:23). He endured all of this to set all of us free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:3, 4). Jesus is the only One who could defeat the devil and deliver us from our bondage. (Heb. 2:14, 15) The proof that our sin was paid for is that Jesus did not stay dead; His resurrection is our assurance that our indebtedness to sin has been fully satisfied. (Acts 2:24)
Because God foreknew His plan of redemption, He has displayed and continues to display His unfathomable patience with mankind. As we take a look at the younger son as he comes to himself during a severe trial, I want all of us to realize that we do not do this on our own. As John 6:44 clearly states, we cannot and / or will not come to God of our own accord. The spirit of God Himself is actively at work drawing people to Himself. No one has ever just spontaneously thought, “I think I want to repent and turn my life to God today.” No, God has been patiently orchestrating His plan throughout history and He desires for all of us to be a part of it (2 Pet. 3:9). As the Spirit draws us to Him, we are enlightened to the fact that God is in active pursuit of us. Just as the son was caught off guard by the father’s reaction to his return, everyone who comes to the Father is overwhelmed by the force and exuberance of love lavished upon us. And this brings me to the final point which I will cover next week.
Until next time, please remember that the only way we can exhibit patience is to rely on the grace of our Savior Who was so patient with us.
Because God foreknew His plan of redemption, He has displayed and continues to display His unfathomable patience with mankind. As we take a look at the younger son as he comes to himself during a severe trial, I want all of us to realize that we do not do this on our own. As John 6:44 clearly states, we cannot and / or will not come to God of our own accord. The spirit of God Himself is actively at work drawing people to Himself. No one has ever just spontaneously thought, “I think I want to repent and turn my life to God today.” No, God has been patiently orchestrating His plan throughout history and He desires for all of us to be a part of it (2 Pet. 3:9). As the Spirit draws us to Him, we are enlightened to the fact that God is in active pursuit of us. Just as the son was caught off guard by the father’s reaction to his return, everyone who comes to the Father is overwhelmed by the force and exuberance of love lavished upon us. And this brings me to the final point which I will cover next week.
Until next time, please remember that the only way we can exhibit patience is to rely on the grace of our Savior Who was so patient with us.
John Clark
John Clark is a husband to Julie, a father of one son living in Valrico, Florida. He has an Associate Degree of Theology from Life Christian University, and serves at Life Center of Brandon where he is a teacher and writer.
John Clark is a husband to Julie, a father of one son living in Valrico, Florida. He has an Associate Degree of Theology from Life Christian University, and serves at Life Center of Brandon where he is a teacher and writer.