Sermon Cloud

The Father’s Love

Let me begin by greeting all the Fathers here today – Happy Father’s Day! I know this is going to be such a special Sunday here in BCI because all our women have worked so hard to make this celebration worth remembering. I understand that the women have also prepared a short program besides the good meal after worship so I hope everyone will stick around.

            Since we are honoring all the fathers, many of us can praise God because He has blessed us with great fathers who have done their best to provide us with all the love and care we needed growing up. On the other hand, I also recognize that there may be some here who are finding it difficult to rejoice because they did not have positive experiences with their earthly fathers. They probably have fathers who were abusive to them in their disciplines leaving them with deep emotional pains, or those absentee fathers who were never there to help them out growing up. If this is who you are, I hope I can encourage you to look up to your Heavenly Father and rejoice on Him having filled the place of your earthly father. I’m sure He was able to supply you with all the love and attention you needed in life. 

 I           SEEKING FOR THE HIGHEST GOOD: (vs.11-12)

            Chapter 15 of Luke provides a series of parables regarding the ‘lost’ condition of humanity. What triggered the teachings was the incident found in verses 1-2:

Luke 15:1-2 (NIV)
¹ Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.
² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

                The criticisms of the religious leaders about Jesus hanging out with sinners brought all the three parables – the lost sheep, coin and son. Because of time constraints, we will only study the lost son, but in all the three parables the conclusion is one and the same - I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. In other words, Jesus was sending the message to the religious leaders that sinners matter to God. Jesus was hanging out with sinners because they are the very reason why He came here on earth; it is for their reconciliation to the Father.

            Now, looking specifically on the last parable, we are introduced to a father with two sons. On the outset, you find a father who had worked so hard to adequately provide for his family. But more than the material provisions, it is also evident that he maintained an intimate relationship with his sons wherein they had the confidence to express to him whatever is in their hearts, even to point that the younger son would have the courage to ask for his inheritance while he was still very much alive, or the older son being jealous, was able to approach him and say exactly what he felt.

            I see this as love from the father, love that allows him to be ever conscious of providing the needs of his children even if it would mean putting their needs before his own. And to allow them to be honest and open to him even to the point that sometimes what they would say would hurt him. What a father!

            Dr. Emery Bancroft, author of the book Elemental Theology, provided a beautiful definition of God’s love saying, “He is inclined to seek the highest good for His creatures and the communication of Himself to them regardless of the sacrifice involved.”   

            In our lives, we have a Heavenly Father who had sought our highest good even to the point of sacrificing His very own son Jesus Christ. His only desire is for us to have a more meaningful existence. But even in His best intentions, we are still guilty of misrepresenting Him and undermining His love. I can see how this could be applicable in our earthly relationships. I see human fathers/parents trying to do their best to their children, yet children will remain ungrateful only magnifying their mistakes and weaknesses. This attitude among kids often results to rebellion, so watch out for it. Is it possible that this is kind of relationship we have towards our earthly parents? How about our attitude to our Heavenly Father?

 II         SEEKING ONLY FOR THE GOODS: (vs. 12-16)

In verse 12, something very strange and honest occurs. The son makes a request to his father, asking for an advance on his forthcoming inheritance. His petition is rather unusual because the inheritance is only given at the point of the father’s death. Yet, the son could not wait, because the text says in v. 13, “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country…” In light of the son’s desire to move from his father’s household and go to a distant country, the petition for an advanced inheritance gains new meaning. Because if one properly understands the heart of the son, what he is in fact saying is, “Father, I know how wealthy you are and all you can afford me. But in all honesty, I have no use for a relationship with you. I only want what you are materially good for.” 

The defining characteristic of the son is his desire to use his father as a mere tool for his own ambitions and aspirations. This is his greatest sin, because from it flows a host of other sinful actions, which lead to painful consequences. So, the question becomes this morning, what are you after? A relationship with your heavenly father or merely what he can afford you?

            If t he son provides an image of one who truly does not seek to be immersed in Father’s love, we find an image in Exodus 33 of one who is willing to relinquish material advantages if only to be surrounded by the presence of God.  In the previous chapter (Exodus 32), Moses returns to the Israelites after spending forty days with God, only to find the people taking part in idol worship. He destroys the stone tablets that carry the Ten Commandments out of frustration and pleads with God to preserve the sinful nation despite their actions.

            God responds to Moses in Exodus 33:1-3 saying:

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.

2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way."

            God in his mercy, not only preserves the people, but also sends them towards their desired destination. God explains to them that their ancestors received a promise of material blessing, and because of this promise, the people would benefit. However, in v.3 God makes it clear that because of their wickedness, he will withhold Hi s Presence from the people. Ultimately, they will get everything they asked for, except the opportunity to be with Him.

            Moses answers in v.15 saying, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” In the face of receiving the promised blessing, Moses tells God that God’s Presence is what he desires, and if it is not given, the promised blessing becomes worthless. Moses sought God, not what God could afford him.

Which heart does our own heart resemble, the one of the son or the one of Moses?

III        SURRENDERING FOR GROWTH: (vs. 14-20a)

In the passage, one finds the son’s dismissal of relationship cloaked in the pursuit of adventure. The text reads, “(he) set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living”. Yet, reckless pursuits are not without consequences. In v.14, the text continues, “After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.” Jesus, in telling the story, makes clear that if you are banking on anything except the Father for fulfillment, you will be thoroughly disappointed.

            Furthermore, the more he seeks to patch up his mistakes using his own logic and reasoning centered on his own effort, the worse his situations becomes. In his desire to experience fulfillment and independence by having the ability to make his own choices, the opposite occurs. The son fin ds that his ambitions and aspirations have betrayed him and he loses all independence. By verse 16, he has become a mere laborer in a field, a position his father also hires. Therefore, he has left home only to end up impoverished and more dependent.

            However, as he shares a meal with the swine, the text reads, (v.17) “he came to his senses”. The story begins to turn as the son’s thoughts begin to change. His thinking shifts and becomes centered on the greatness of his father. The son begins to understand the brokenness of his situation within the scope of how worthy of a master his father is. So what does he plan? In v.18-19, the son plans to return home in order to tell his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, make me like one of your hired men.”

            I believe if we truly understood how great our Heavenly Father is, there would not be a day where we go without saying, “Father, I continue to habitually sin against you. I am not even worthy to be called your child.” If we do not this, we continue on in our rebellion, hopelessly seeking to be filled with something other than what is capable of true fulfillment. May the son’s plea to his father, be our daily prayer to our Heavenly Father.

 IV        SHARING UNCONDITIONAL GRACE: (vs. 20b-24)

            Finally, what we will find on the last part of the passage will show us the unconditional love and grace of the father for his son, which perfectly fits the love we have received from our Heavenly Father. Despite the hurts he experienced out of the rebelliousness of the son, he was eager to do the following:

• Initiate Reconciliation:

Verse 20 describes a father who had been waiting for the return of his reckless son. After seeing him from afar even without a word yet, he run, embraced, and kissed his son assuring him that his return was very much appreciated. When the son asked for forgiveness, it was bestowed without any reservation. Same can happen in our relationship with our Father when we are willing to acknowledge our sins.

1 John 1:9 (NIV)
⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

• Impart Restoration:

In addition to forgiveness, the father was willing to restore the son to his former position as someone who belongs to the family. The giving of the robe, ring, sandals, and a special celebration were designed to project this truth. The relationship which was once broken has now been restored. Now, the son will again enjoy the blessings of living close to the father.

Do you have a good, loving relationship with your earthly fathers? How about to your Heavenly Father? For all the fathers here today, our Heavenly Father has provided us with an example, let us keep a loving relationship with all our children. For all of us, if we feel we are not that close to our Heavenly Father, He is waiting for us to go back to Him. He promises reconciliation and restoration when we return to Him because He loves us with an everlasting love.