Pleasing Our Father (Luke 15:11-24)                                                                                              2009.02.22    Pastor Bernie Chung

A few years after I came to this country for college, I received a phone call from my elder brother saying that our father was gravely ill. Right away I knew it was very serious. In two days I found myself flying home to see my dad. That was thirty years ago.  Just last week, I also flew back to Hong Kong. If it was not because of my dad, I would not have taken these two trips.  The first one was because of his illness.  This time I went to Hong Kong to be with my brothers to bring my dad’s skeletal remains to the US in order to be buried in LA where my mother will be when she passes away.

During these two trips, I cannot help myself but reflect upon this Luke 15 passage. When we think of the Prodigal Son story, we usually think of a rebellious young man who had left home because he wanted to be independent.  He wanted to do his own thing without asking for his parents’ permission, so he moved far away from home. When we think of the Prodigal Son story, we usually think about how the young man became broke, homeless, and ended up working in a pig pen.  He was so hungry that he wanted to eat with the pigs. Then, coming to his senses he decided to go back to his father to apologize for his bad behavior.  He, in fact, had also prepared a truthful speech hoping that his father would receive him back.

I consider myself a prodigal son because I have been away from home for so many years. I wanted to express my love and respect to my father in person before it was too late.  I also wanted to ask for his forgiveness because of my mischievous behavior in my childhood years.  How I wanted to please my father for the last time!  I had mixed emotions when I flew home the first time because I was not sure I could still see my father one last time.  I thank God that I was finally able to spend a few precious days with him at the end.

A prodigal son is more than a young man leaving home, getting into trouble, and coming back home.  The Prodigal Son is not just limited to young people either.  The Prodigal Son can be any gender, any age, and can be Christian or non-Christian.  In fact, we notice that the prodigal son of Luke 15 acknowledged the Heavenly Father.  Any time when we stray away from God to do our own thing, we are a Prodigal Son.  As soon as the Prodigal Son came to his own senses in verse 18, he said, “I will go back.”  He humbly came before the Heavenly Father and admitted his rebellious attitude towards his father, and the wild life style that was a sin against God.  He determined the need to confess his wrong doing and asked for forgiveness.

After admitting his sin, the prodigal son was ready for a change of life.  Without the commitment of leaving his filthy life style, there is no repentance.  Repentance demands actions.  Upon returning home, his dad came running down the road and opened wide his arms of love, hugged and kissed him. He put a robe on his back, a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet. He even killed the fatted calf and they began to celebrate. This is also how the Lord will respond to us today if we come back to Him.

While my father was on his death bed, I expressed what I had in mind.  I also explained to him about God’s love and his plan of salvation.  My father was so weak and could not speak much.  In response he uttered some words in my ears but I could not understand.  Only when I held his hands, did it become possible for him to communicate with me.  With every squeezing action of his hand, I sensed that he was assuring me that he understood what I had to say, and he was pleased.  It seemed to me that my father understood God’s grace and readily accepted Christ. That was the last thing and the most important thing I did to please my father.  I can only trust God for His abundant grace of salvation.

God is concerned about our relationship with Him. What we are going to do will affect our relationship with God.  Among our different needs, do we long to come home to God?  In Joel 2:13, it says, “Rend your heart not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate.”  How pleasing it is to the Lord, if our relationship with God can be restored.  We can return to our spiritual home anytime, even today, and have fellowship with Him.  I know when I have gone astray, retuning home to fellowship with God will surely please my Heavenly Father.