There is an old saying that says, “a car parked in a garage doesn’t make it an automobile anymore than going to church makes you a Christian.” And many people use this as a reason to avoid God all together.

In part 1 of this post we see that no matter how far you have traveled, God still desires to welcome you home. However, in this parable of the lost son, Luke 15:11-32, Jesus actually tells the story of two sons. The younger son runs off and finally comes to his senses, repents and returns home to his father. But the elder son stayed home this entire time working for his father and doing good.

Now the father in this parable is God, the younger son who ran off is the sinner, the immoral person, and the elder son is the moral one, the kind of person who does everything right by outward appearances. The younger son runs off in wild living spending money on the pleasures of life to give him happiness. The elder son stays home, he is preoccupied with doing everything right and living a self righteous life in order to gain acceptance and control.

When the elder son returns home after a hard day in the field he
discovers a party being held for the younger son. Angered by this display of acceptance and love for a son who left the father out of selfish needs, the elder son is furious! The elder son tries to rebuke the father for this injustice and ingratitude for everything the elder son has done to gain acceptance and approval of the father.

Just like there are those who try to find happiness away from God and are lost, there are those who are right next to him and are also lost. The elder son just like the younger son did not love the father he just wanted the father’s things. But both sons wanted control. The younger sought this through self discovery and the elder son sought this through moral conformity.

There are those who go to church, serve and try to keep the appearance of loving the father but their hearts are more concerned with the blessings, gifts, status and only what the father can provide. Going to church, worshiping, and serving the body of Christ are all very important as Christians. But these fruits of the spirit are outward displays of an inward transformation that only happens when you give your heart and your life to Jesus Christ.

Jesus doesn’t want your works, or your self righteousness, he wants you! His desire is for a relationship that is real and personal. In this parable Jesus makes the distinction clear that his purpose was to seek and save that which was lost: Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” His desire is for you to come to him whether you have traveled far away or are right next to him. Won’t you surrender your heart and your life today to Jesus Christ and come home?

If it is your desire to come to Christ I invite you to view these simple steps to peace with God. Steps to Peace with God