It is not a pleasure to write about all subjects. However, it is always urgent and important to write about how the lost can be found. Two weeks ago the emphasis was on the joy that was experiened by the owner of the lost coin when she was able to find it. Last week we were reminded that a shepherd, that is a caring one, can find much joy in finding his lost sheep, even though he had ninety-nine safe in his possession.
This week’s article is concerning the last of the three parables that Jesus told about finding the lost – we know it as the parable of the prodigal son. The parables are all found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15. The third parable begins thusly: “And He said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.” Luke 15:11-14.
As one could imagine, the son’s circumstances went from bad to worse very quickly. And as with many of us perhaps, his thoughts turned toward home and family. So in verse 18 of Luke 15, we find these words: “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”….Now just notice his homecoming! “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, (Just think how often his father had watched and waited!) and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
Many truths can be drawn from the three parables told by Jesus as recorded in Luke fifteen, but two stand out to us. The one about the lost coin reveals the value of it as determined by the searcher. The last two—the lost sheep and the prodigal son— reveal the value that is determined by their finders. Let’s not forget the love the Father has for each of us!
