“WHILE HE WAS A GREAT WAY OFF...”
Luke 15:20-24
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. There’s a story told of a husband and wife who were both doctors – one a doctor of theology and the other a doctor of medicine. When their doorbell was rung and the maid answered, the inquirer would often ask for “the doctor.”
2. The maid’s interesting reply was, “Do you want the one who preaches or the one who practices?” We know the theory of Christian living, but what we must do is to practice it.
B. TEXT
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” 22 “‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ Lk. 15:20, 22-24.
C. THESIS
1. In this passage we see that God “sees us,” reaches out in “compassion” to us, and restores our rights as children of God when we repent.
2. The title of this message is “While he was a great way off...”.
I. EVEN FAR AWAY, THE FATHER “SAW HIM”
A. GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU
1. There wasn’t a day he didn’t know what his son was doing (whether he heard reports of him or not). He knew the nature of his son, the temptations surrounding him, and the outcome of such a sinful lifestyle.
2. Likewise, God has always been aware of us. He’s seen us in every condition and every circumstance of life. Yet, He looks upon us with love.
3. God constantly monitors us in our wanderings, looking for an opening to reach us. That father saw his son when he was acting like a fool, when he ran out of money, and He saw him when he despaired - when he gladly would have filled his belly with the husks which the swine ate.
B. GOD SEES OUR HEARTS
1. “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7. Then came the magical moment when the prodigal’s heart began to change. The Father saw it. Oh, what a sight it was for a father to see! His reprobate son, so dishonored, so filthy, reduced to rags – he watched as within formed a heart of gold!!
2. Often it looks like God will never move, but when the conditions are right, God begins to alter things for your good. 2 Chron. 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
3. God sees you tonight; you’re constantly on the heart of God. There’s not a desire in your mind, unread by Him; there’s nor a tear in your eyes, He doesn’t see. He’s seen you at your worst, yet He loves you still and is determined to save you.
4. God’s not a mere casual observer, but watches us with pity and concern, like a parent would. Mothers are said to have ‘eyes in the back of their heads!’ Why? Because Moms can detect the slightest change of character.
5. Such is our Father. He notices our sadness, our remorse, our hunger to change. He sees us with Xray vision – not just our outside. He read the prodigal’s heart and understood his miserable plight.
6. It’s no good trying to hide anything from God; He already knows everything about you already. Why don’t we just come to Him tell Him our problems?
II. “HE HAD COMPASSION ON HIM”
“When he saw him he had compassion on him.” The word compassion means ‘suffering with’ or ‘fellow-suffering.’
A. WHEN WE REPENT, GOD LOOKS PAST OUR SINS
1. God sees your grief and suffers with you. To help us see God’s compassion, imagine for a moment, that the prodigal was YOUR son or daughter or grandchild.
2. Kids don’t realize how circumstances can domino and we can quickly end up broke and on the street. Many girls have run away to escape their parent’s authority and ended up in the cruel grasp of a pimp, or strung out on drugs. They weep in secret and see no way out.
3. But thank God, there’s a God in Heaven who hears our every prayer! And somehow, He makes a way of escape for us, where there is no way! Praise the Lord!
4. That is how God feels towards you, if you are His repentant child. “Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them who fear Him.” Be of good courage, for the Bible says, “He had compassion on him.”
B. HE RAN TO HIS SON
1. Next notice the swiftness of God’s divine love — “He ran.” Someone said, “Slow are the steps of repentance, but swift are the steps of forgiveness!”
2. Probably the prodigal’s father had been climbing on top of his house to look out for his son every day. What a loving heart! One morning he caught just a glimpse of a pitiful, emaciated beggar, stumbling in the distance. If he’d been anyone but the father, he wouldn’t have known his son, the young man was so changed.
3. But he looked, and looked again, until at last he said, “It’s him!” Down came the old man—tears flowing from his eyes – and took off running down the road. The servants said, “Where’s he going?” and ran after him. Across the long valley, over the bridge, around the curve, they ran.
C. HE HUGGED AND KISSED HIM
1. Before the son had time to notice who it was, his father’s arms were about him, hugging and kissing him!
2. I was once a young prodigal, far away from God, yet in a single moment—no sooner had my eyes looked on the crucified Jesus, than I felt my perfect reconciliation with God, and I knew my sins were then forgiven!
3. The Father is here today; He reaches out to embrace you in His love. Before you leave this place, He wants to erase your old doubts, fears, sighs, and cries.
4. The Father didn’t stand at a distance, —“He fell upon his neck and kissed him.” Love overlooked the rags, the sweat, and the smell of hogs. When we repent, God no longer sees our sins but only that we’ve been chosen by His Son.
5. The father’s kiss was the seal of forgiveness. He wouldn’t have kissed him if he'd been angry with him; he’d forgiven him -- ALL. Aren’t you glad God has forgiven you all?
III. PRIVILEGES RESTORED
1. He was restored to the family and home again.
2. He put the family ring on his finger (sonship), sandals on his feet (redemption), and the best robe (righteousness) on him, and he ate the children's bread.
3. Though you look foul, and smell strongly of hogs -- your Father won’t notice these marks of your former lifestyle -- but see how he treats you...
4. He kisses you again and again (the Greek indicates overflowing love – multiple kisses) and then you make Merry! That means God throws a party over you!
5. Tonight, your Father, delights Himself in you! Jesus loved you and died for you. I’ll never know why God loved us so, but we simply accept that love and rejoice in it. What are you waiting for?
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: REPENTANCE
1. In Jersey Village Baptist Church in Houston Texas, on February 26, 1995, the congregation was convening for their 6:30 PM evening service.
2. During the worship service, a young woman walked the aisle and came to the altar. Several other ladies gathered around to pray for her. She began to weep and confess her sins and ask the Lord for forgiveness.
3. Other members of the church began to come forward and confess their sins as a deep time of repentance set in. Around 9 PM, some people went to relieve a volunteer couple in the nursery so they could come out and pray.
4. At the altar, they began to weep and requested prayer for their son who had run away from home some four months before. Everyone began to pray for their son.
5. It turned out that just about the time the young woman began walking the aisle, the young runaway was at the Mardi Gras's in Galveston Texas.
6. He felt God calling him to go home. He made the 90 minute drive and found his parent’s house dark. Where could they be? Church!
7. He drove to the church and was asked to come in, and was pointed to his parents, who had just begun to pray that he would come home.
8. In a tearful embrace, this son repented of his wayward life and recommitted his life to Christ. It's amazing how God works!
B. ILLUS. #2: Coming Home With Rembrandt
1. Rembrandt (1606-1669), one of the greatest Dutch painters. He was famous in his own time and his paintings sold for large sums of money.
2. Yet, there were days when Rembrandt wished he was never born. Tragedy struck his family: his 3 young children died and his wife of 8 years died. Rembrandt withdrew from society and his popularity diminished. He made some poor financial decisions and could not pay his creditors. Other troubles came. When Rembrandt died, people had almost entirely forgotten him.
3. However, his last painting, The Prodigal Son, depicts Rembrandt’s heart at the last. . It reveals a son, kneeling at the feet of the Father, crushed and repentant, seeking pardon for the life he had squandered. The Father extends a hand of love and forgiveness, while offering hope and consolation. Rembrandt painted himself as this son.
4. He realized he was the lost son who had recklessly lavished the family fortunes away. The scene is sad, melancholy - yet tinged with an enigmatic aura of expectant hopefulness.
5. Though considering himself a failure, Rembrandt sensed the Father's arm of mercy and grace embracing him. This story of the Prodigal Son finds its climax in verse 24, "This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! So they began to celebrate."
C. THE CALL
1. The devil tries to make us feel defeated and rejected by God. But the Father’s true feelings toward us are revealed by the prodigal’s father. He’s reaching out to you!
2. If you compared your spiritual journey to the Prodigal's, are you:
a. At home? d. On your way home?
b. In a far country? e. Just arrived?
c. Coming to your senses? f. Feasting?
3. God is saying, "Come Home, I love you!" How many of you need healing? Forgiveness? Acceptance? Let’s pray & receive! [C.H. Spurgeon contributed a few thoughts.]
