Coming Home

We closed out our sermon series through Hosea last Sunday, but not without one more plea from the Lord for His people to "return" to Him. Once again, it echoed Jesus' parable of the prodigal son with a call to wayward Israel--and to us--to come home.

Because of the parallels between Hosea and the prodigal son, I referenced that story a few times in the series. Jesus included it among three parables He told in Luke 15, in response to the criticism of the Pharisees because the tax-collectors and sinners were gathering around Him to hear His message. We read that the Pharisees muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Indeed, He did. 

And the stories he told were to confirm why He did that. The other two parables were about a lost sheep, and a shepherd who had a hundred others but left the other 99 to go looking for the lost one; and a lost coin, and a woman who turned her house upside down to find it. In all three parables, there was much rejoicing when the lost sheep and coin and son were found, and Jesus compared that to how the angels in heaven rejoice over one lost sinner that comes to repentance.

In other words, Jesus was saying that lost sinners matter so much to God that when one is "found" there is a celebration in heaven among the angels! And that is why Jesus came to begin with, "to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)

The loving father/prodigal son analogy in particular has always been a favorite for so many people, because we all have a little prodigal in us. It paints such a good picture of the relational aspect of our repentance. Of a son who messed up, but "came to his senses" and came home, and was forgiven and welcomed home by his father.

That brings to mind a Spanish story I have read a few times, often attributed to Errnest Hemingway, about a father and his rebellious son. The son had done wrong and in his shame he ran away from home. In the story the father searched all over Spain for Paco, but he couldn’t find him anywhere. Finally, in Madrid, in a last desperate attempt to find his son, the father placed a classified ad in the daily newspaper. It read: “Paco, Meet at Hotel Montana. Noon Tuesday. All is forgiven. Papa.”

The father prayed that the boy would see the ad and maybe – just maybe – he would come to the Hotel Montana. And so on Tuesday at noon the father arrived at Hotel Montana and he couldn’t believe his eyes. The police had been called to control the crowd of eight hundred young men, all with the common Spanish name “Paco” who had come to the hotel to meet their father. Eight hundred boys named Paco read the ad in the newspaper and hoped the message was for them. Eight hundred “Pacos” came to receive the forgiveness they so desperately needed, to be reconciled with their Papa.

That story illustrates what Jesus was driving at in the parable of the prodigal son, and what God was speaking through His prophet Hosea. Just as there are many Pacos in Hemingway’s story, so there are many prodigals out there who need the Father’s forgiveness and a fresh start. Perhaps you are one of those, and you are still wondering if, in your sin and rebellion, Jesus would still welcome you home. Just to be sure you understand, the Pharisees' accusation was true: "This man welcomes sinners..." He did then, He does now.

So, I invite you to come home to our Heavenly Father, who loves you more than you can even imagine.  And just as Jesus described, the angels will be throwing a big party to celebrate when you do!

I can’t wait to gather together again on Sunday, to worship the Lord and to celebrate His grace and love for us.  I pray you have a blessed and safe Labor Day weekend, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

--Pastor Ken