In a world where people often expect punishment for failure, God surprises us with mercy. Many of us carry guilt. We feel we've gone too far, messed up too badly, or wandered too long. But the truth is this, God is not waiting with a list of our wrongs. He’s looking out for us, eager for us to come back, and ready to welcome us with open arms.
The Misconception That Holds Us Captive
So many of us think that God is an angry, distant deity, ready to punish us the moment we fail. But this image is a stark contrast to the God Jesus revealed through His life and teachings.
In Luke 15, He tells the story of the prodigal son, a young man who rebelled, squandered his inheritance, and found himself in utter despair, eventually deciding to crawl back home in shame, hoping for nothing more than a servant's place.
What was the father's reaction when he saw his wayward son approaching from a distance?
Luke 15:20 (NIV): "So he got up and went to his father. 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."
And it didn't stop there! The father was so happy, he called for a celebration: Luke 15:22-24 (NIV): "But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on your 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.’ So they began to celebrate."
The father didn't wait. He didn't ask for an apology first. He didn't keep his distance. He didn't scold his son. He didn't show disappointment. Instead, his heart was "filled with compassion." He ran to his son, hugged him, kissed him and threw a celebration. This incredible action beautifully illustrates the very nature of God. Every time we choose to come back to Him, He welcomes us with love, no hesitation, no shame, just open arms.
All God Asks Is, "Come."
God's invitation is clear and powerful "COME". You don’t have to fix yourself before you reach out to Him. He isn’t looking for perfect people. He wants you to come as you are, mistakes and all.
Jesus Himself echoed this powerful invitation:
"Come to me, all you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28, NIV)
Just like the prodigal son, when he came to his senses, he didn’t stay stuck in guilt. He stood up, even though he felt unworthy. He took a bold step back to the father.
Luke 15:18-20 (NIV): "‘I will get up and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father."
And what did he find?
Not judgment, not punishment or rejection. He found Mercy and Restoration.
As recounted in Luke 15:20-24 (NIV): "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. (21) The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ (22) “But the father said to his servants, ‘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.’ So they began to celebrate."
It's important to recognize that son did not go back to his father proudly or thinking he deserved anything. He came back humbly, truly sorry, and admitting his mistakes. As the Bible wisely says:
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and sorry heart, O God, you will not turn away." (Psalm 51:17, NIV)
God Doesn’t Just Forgive, He Restores Him
The father didn’t just hold back his anger, He ran with joy to embrace his son. He didn’t stop at forgiving him; He went beyond that and restored everything the son had lost. He welcomed him home with:
1) A Robe
Luke 15 Verse 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.
The robe the father placed on his son wasn’t just clothing, it was a symbol of covering, cleansing, and a new beginning. It represented being delivered from his old life of sin, shame, and rebellion. The son came home dirty and broken, but the robe covered all of that.
By giving him the best robe, the father was saying: “You are no longer defined by where you’ve been, you are covered, accepted, and made new.”
Just as God clothes us in righteousness when we come to Him, the robe signified a full deliverance from the past and a restoration into a life of dignity and grace
2) The Ring
When the father said, “Put a ring on his finger,” he wasn’t just giving jewelry, he was restoring the son’s:
- Identity and Authority:
A signet ring, for example, could be used to seal documents and represent the family's power or approval. By placing a ring on the son's finger, the father was reinstating him as a full member of the household, not as a servant, but as a son with full rights.
- Covenant Relationship:
The ring showed that the bond between father and son was unbroken. Though the son had walked away, the father never stopped seeing him as family. The ring showed that the son was not disowned. He was welcomed back into covenant relationship with his father.
3) Sandals on His Feet
“Put sandals on his feet.” Sandals hear represents:
- Restored Sonship
In biblical culture, servants and slaves often went barefoot, while sons and free men wore sandals. By putting sandals on his son’s feet, the father was saying, “You’re not a servant, you’re my son.”
Even though the son had asked to be treated as a hired hand (Luke 15:19), the father refused to lower his status. He restored his position in the family completely.
- Freedom and Dignity
Sandals symbolized freedom. Freedom to walk, to return, to live as part of the household again. The father was covering his son’s feet not only to protect them but to restore his dignity and worth. No longer was he wandering in shame, he was walking in restoration.
- Prepared for a New Journey
Sandals also represent readiness, to walk forward, to start again. The son wasn’t just forgiven; he was being equipped for a new beginning, fully welcomed and empowered to live as a child of the house again.
4. A Feast
" 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.’ So they began to celebrate."
The feast wasn’t just about food or a homecoming party. It was a deep and joyful celebration, it was a powerful symbol of something far greater
The father said in Luke 15:24, “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
This wasn’t about physical death, it was about spiritual separation. The son had been far from his father, living in sin and brokenness. But when he chose to return, it was as though he had come back to life.
When the father threw a feast, it represented:
Heaven’s Joy Over One Soul: Just as Jesus said in Luke 15:7, “There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents,” this feast mirrors the celebration that takes place in heaven when a lost soul returns to God.
- God’s Value for Every Soul: The father didn’t just quietly welcome his son, he celebrated him. That’s how deeply God values you.
- Healing from Shame and Brokenness: The feast marked the end of the son’s suffering and disgrace. It was a visible declaration that his past was behind him.
- Deliverance from a Life of Sin: The son was no longer bound by the decisions that led him away. He was now free.
Furthermore, a feast brings people together. It’s a sign that the son belonged again, at the table, in the family, and in the father’s heart. He wasn’t kept outside watching others eat. He had a seat at the table, just like before.
It was also father’s way of saying, “My son is truly home, not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally. He’s healed. He's delivered. He’s restored. He’s mine again.”
God doesn't just forgive us; He restores us wholly when we humbly return to Him. He doesn’t treat us as slaves or strangers. He receives us as sons and daughters, rightful heirs to the kingdom.
Come Home Today
Maybe you feel too broken, far from God, or too messed up to come to God. Don’t believe the lie that you’ve gone too far to ever come back. The truth is, God is not out to punish you. He wants to hold you, He’s not counting your mistakes. He’s waiting to welcome you, He’s ready to lift you every time you fall, He hasn’t given up. He still waits for you. Even if regret fills your heart, God’s heart is already open to you
You don’t have to carry that guilt. You don’t have to hide from God. Just say, like the prodigal son, “I will arise and go.” Don’t let shame hold you back. Make that decision today. Arise. Come home.
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