No other parable in the Bible is so clear in showing the
design of God for our true identity as it is in the parable of the prodigal son
written in Lk: 15:11-32. If we carefully study this parable, this shows the
tremendous love the earthly father had towards his lost son, and this
indirectly points us toward the love of our heavenly Father.
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 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. The younger son is
one of the main character who asks his father for his inheritance while his father
was alive because he wanted to leave home and as the story unfolds we find that
he leaves home.
13 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. 14 And when he
had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in
want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that
country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And
he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and
no man gave unto him. The younger son represents the sinners, and the tax
collectors who do not want to identify with the Father in heaven, and they must
be in the world to find their true identity which is their hope and an
illusion. We find that the younger son disillusioned himself in the process of
finding his true identity, and when the real famine struck he was bankrupt and
deserted by his good friends. When he was forced to work as a Gentile, in that
process he began to find his true identity and began to realize that he would
find himself when he has a true relationship with his father. This portion of
this story makes one realize that apart from having a loving relationship with
the heavenly Father one cannot find true identity and any other attempt to find
himself would be utterly futile.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many
hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with
hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto
him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And
am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And
he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his
father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed
him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned
against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But
the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him;
and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring
hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For
this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they
began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came
and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And
he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And
he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted
calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. The elder son who
was faithful and by his father’s side comes to the picture in these verses,
when the younger brother arrived after wasting his wealth in the misadventures
in a distant land. Indeed the older brother reacted in anger and fury when a
feast was prepared for the younger brother. He was angry and concerned for his
younger brother’s quick acceptance into his home.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore
came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And he answering
said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed
I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might
make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was
come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the
fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son,
thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was
meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and
is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
From the
above story we gain insight into the identity quest of the older brother. The older
brother has never protested to his father’s command and he thought his identity
was in his performance, and his main goal was to be a dutiful son, and he
definitely thought his worth was in the work he performed. Here gain we find
that like his prodigal brother he did not understand his true identity and
could not understand that his true self will be found in a proper relationship
with his father. Below is a graphic picture of the restoration of a true
identity and the above story is explained.
One can stretch our imaginations and
picture how the father would have responded to the lost son’s arrival. Probably
he would have ran down the road, lifting the front garment in his hand so, he
would not trip and fall down. It is the real compassion of God the Father
demonstrated by the love of an earthly father. We have to note the father
accepted the son, embraced him in spite of his tattered clothes, down cast face
and the rebellion still residing in him. It was the father who dictated the
terms of their relationship by the signet ring which bear the family mark, and
the best clothing.
What is separation from
the world?
The separation between the ways of
God and man is covered in the doctrine of separation. Be not deceived- this
includes: spiritual and emotional health for lasting success requires God honoring
separation from the ways of the world. Those who buy the idea of if something
is good, that can be adopted into daily life practice are opening their minds
to compromise to the world pattern. This includes even clergy and others who
participate in teaching ministries with evangelicals who teach anything in
contrary to God's Word. Word of caution: they could even pay very high
spiritual price that could run through families for many generations!!!!
Sin and temptations are threats to our true
identity in Christ. By sinning continuously we push ourselves away from the
true relationship with Jesus and His church. We temporarily renounce who we are
just like the prodigal in this story. The attacks of the enemy comes in various
format in this world to conform us to its pattern, in order to destroy our true
identity in Christ. But, we have a hope and good news because of what God has
done through His obedient Son Jesus Christ on the Cross. Jesus has taught us
that by returning to God, one can find the true identity, self-esteem and the
respect a person deserves. Truly we would miss the mark, by being like either
of the brothers in the parable. No matter what we have believed so far in our
life, chasing after false identity as true, this parable is giving an unconditional
invitation to all who read this writing.
Book Reference:
William T. Kirwan. Biblical Concepts for Christian Counseling. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House:1984.
For further reading:
1. Millard
J. Erickson. Christian Theology.
2. R.T.
Kendall. Understanding Theology,
Developing a Healthy Church in the 21st Century. 1996.
3. Jay
E. Adams. A Theology of Christian
Counseling, More than Redemption.
4. Louis
Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand
Rapids
5. Robert
P Lightner. Handbook of Evangelical
Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and Review. MI : Baker Book House, 1986.
6. Charles
Ryrie. Basic Theology.
7. A. H.
Strong. Systematic Theology.
8. Wayne
Grudem. Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand
Rapids
9. Steven
W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone,
An Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine.
10. John
Theodore Muller, Th.D. Christian
Dogmatics, A handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and
Laymen. Mo : Concordia Publishing House,
1934.
11. Prayers To Move Your
Mountains. Nashville
12. John White. Parables, the
Greatest Stories ever Told. Illinois
13. ESV Study Bible. English
Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, Wheaton ,
Illinois
14. The Matthew Henry Study Bible. King
James Version. Iowa
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