Am I so angry that I won’t go to Church? What then might be the problem?
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. (Luke 15:28-29)
Consider this story of The Prodigal Son. Was it really a story about him or about his older brother who was so angry that he would not go in? Maybe this verse from Proverbs will give us a clue?
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them. – Proverbs 20:12
Could it be that the older brother’s tongue made him totally deaf?
Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. – AC 22.1
Jesus speaks about several parables in Luke 15 to illustrate the joy that is felt over the recovery of that which was lost. He tells how the woman who had lost one of her ten pieces of silver, sought diligently until she found it, and then called in her neighbors to rejoice with her because she had found that which had been lost.
He spoke the parable of the prodigal son, to show us how God regards those who have strayed away, and have returned again to him. 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 falls 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. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of the country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself,”–when reason assumed the throne, and he began to consider what he had been doing,–“he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 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.
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. 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. 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; an bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” {RH, July 16, 1889 par. 1}
We read that the elder son took exception to the way in which the prodigal was received. The elder son had had every spiritual and temporal advantage. He represented that class that do not go to great excesses of vice, and because of this they are filled with self-righteousness. This son is represented as being grieved that he had not received some marked attention because of his good works, and he was envious that his wayward brother should be so welcomed by his father. {RH, July 16, 1889 par. 2}
The prodigal’s soul had been stirred to the very depths by remorse and repentance, and why should not those who have been partakers of light, give the repenting sinner the right help at the right time? Tell them the good news instead of doting on the bad news? At one time, Jesus asked Simon who would love his benefactor most, the one to whom a small debt was forgiven, or the one to whom a large debt was forgiven. Simon answered that the one who had been forgiven most, would love most. (Luke 7:41-43) Those who have been in despair over their course of action, will manifest corresponding gratitude and love in return, as they receive the pardoning love of God.
“…forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Mat 6:12)
I have experienced many people who were in despair over their sins. They would say things like:
“I fear I am past all help.”
Did you know there is a verse that says as long as we are alive, there is hope for us In Christ? (see Eccl 9:4-5)
One man recently told me at our weekly prayer meeting something that really surprised me. We were talking about the resurrection as depicted by the Apostle in 1 Thes 4:13-18. When we got to the part about how the resurrected and living righteous will “rise together” to meet the Lord in the air, he simply said to the group:
“Ill likely be dead and gone by the time all that happens and I highly doubt that I’ll be risen on time for all that. I have not been a very good person and I am sure it will take more time to raise me up than anyone else, so count me out, I guess.”
He said the other even bigger reason he thought this, was because of the verse where we are told:
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Cor 15:52).
And also, where Jesus says:
“as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Mat 24:27)
My friend was thinking that because of how fast these verses say the second coming will be that there will not be enough time for someone as far gone as him to be fully resurrected in time to be included in the resurrection, simply because of the kind of life he has so often lived.
Fortunately for my friend, and for all of us, the Bible does tell us a different story.
Our personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though not the same particles of matter or material substance as went into the grave. The wondrous works of God are a mystery to humanity. The spirit, the character of a person, is returned to God, there to be preserved for ever. In the resurrection everyone will have their own character. (Rev 22:11) God in His own time will call forth the dead, giving again the breath of life, and bidding the dry bones live. (Ezekiel 37:1-5). From what we can understand, the same bodily form will come forth, but it will be free from disease and every defect. It lives again bearing the same individuality of features, so that friend will recognize friend. Family will recognize family. There is no law of God in nature which shows that God gives back the same identical particles of matter which composed the body before death. God shall give the righteous dead a body that will glorify Him. The prodigals will have nothing to worry about if they come back to Jesus, and give their hearts to Him.
Paul illustrates this subject by the kernel of grain sown in the field. The planted kernel always decays. But there comes forth a new kernel. The natural substance in the grain that decays is never raised as it was before planting. God gives it a new body as it has pleased Him. A much finer material will compose the human body, for it is a new creation, a new birth. (2 Cor 5:17, It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. (1 Cor 15:44)
Are you asking today:
“Is there any hope for me?”
Today, and always, my answer to you would be simple:
“Hope only in God. The Father has bread enough and to spare. Arise, and go to your Father. He will meet you a great way off. He will give you his love and compassion.” The Bible says “God will quiet you with His love…” (Zeph 3:17)
The prodigals in the world around us, in the church we attend,in the homeless camps, in our Indigenous populations, and everywhere that the gospel has been bruted by colonial Christianity. Everywhere that people who have been wounded and harmed by a perverted gospel, Jesus says that all of these beautiful souls that He died for desperately need our personal encouragement. Words of sympathy and love are worth more to them than gold and silver. Why are there so many who stand afar off from the churches when our own Bibles that we so readily proffer to make everyone think like us tell us simply to invite them in?
Some, like the prodigal’s older brother are “angry and will not go in.” Others, are kept out or pushed out by the crimes and abuses of some members who name the name of Christ, but deny the power thereof. Here is how it should be done:
the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Rev 22:17)
For those of you who do not approve of the prodigals coming into your church, who, like the prodigal’s older brother would have some fancy explanation why they should not be let in the doors of your house of worship, Jesus has the following promise.
“All who are afar off are made near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)
It is interesting to note how that Peter came to Jesus, and asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” And he said again, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
We need to let our hearts break. To be perfectly broken. To let the iron melt out of our souls. Let us be pitiful and courteous. Let us have the spirit of Christ. Let us manifest the compassion of Jesus. (Phil 2:5) Jesus even left his royal throne in heaven to die for us. Jesus clothed his divinity with humanity, and came to this earth, so distorted, cold and unfeeling, so seared by the curse, to meet our common adversary, and deliver us from the bondage of sin and death.
One of my Indigenous friends whom I pray with regularly told me something absolutely amazing. They have had horrific things inflicted and imposed upon them by professing Christians all “in the name of God.” I asked them, “well how on earth can you forgive anyone who treated you like that? They don’t even deserve our time, let alone our prayers. How can they ever be trusted again?” My friend just smiled and said “because it’s what God calls us to do.” Then we had a bit of a chuckle because, as I told them, “they don’t deserve anything from God,” I then realized, as three other fingers were pointing back at me, “well neither do I.” None of us deserve anything from God. While we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us. (Rom 5:8) And now Jesus lives for us that we all might abandon our prodigal life, and return home to our Father’s heart of everlasting love, mercy, and grace:
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Rom 5:10, see also Heb 7:25)
Consider anew this story of The Prodigal Son today, while there is still time. (2 Cor 6:2) Was it really a story about the prodigal? Was it a story about his older brother who was so angry that he would not go in? Consider today friend, which of the two you most closely resemble. Please, consider carefully.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them. – Proverbs 20:12
Perhaps the older brother’s tongue made him totally deaf? What about your tongue?
Come Unto Me
(Mat 11:28)
Do hurts of this world; cares of your life
Crush the heart’s hope; pierce like a knife?
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, come unto Me.’
Families break up, by death do we part
Temptations assault, sinking the heart.
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
The hurting soul says ‘Can’t come at all!’
As they toss and turn against His call.
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
Are you dark or lonely, do you sadly frown?
Are you sick or fearful, or lonely or down?
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
You’re mad or glad, or rich or poor?
You can’t resist some evil lure?
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
The story of your life may be Galilee
Raging turmoil, no hope you see.
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
Come unto Jesus; and “rest” you’ll find
Whenever a burden shall tie or bind
Your Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
• by David T Battler