Love and Forgiveness

In my previous articles I attempted to show and differentiate between different perceptions of God and the way He really is. In my last article I showed how God possesses this unconditional love, known as agape in Greek. I briefly showed that our English words for love don't do the concept justice and we will continue to explore that concept in greater depth. Let us begin by returning to the full story of the Prodigal Son. 

“And 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 falleth 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 that 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, 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: And 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." And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

And he said unto him, "Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound."

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.  And he answering said to his father, "Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:  But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf."

And he said unto him, "Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.  It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."”

Luke 15:11-32

Now let us examine a few important concepts in this parable. We see this young son receive his inheritance. We have an opportunity do use our time on this earth as we please, and we ought to use it for the best good. In this story the son squanders his inheritance.  

Now the next concept is that all actions have consequences. In this story one of the consequences is that the son no longer had any money in consequence of his having wasted it. Had he saved his money to buy his necessities, he might have weathered the rough times. Or had he used his inheritance productively he might have had an increase and ended up with more than he had started with. So it is in life. If we cultivate negative habits, and indulge in sinful or selfish behavior, we waste away our time which could be spent in improving and growing.  If we work on improving our character and growing spiritually we gain an increase. 

Next in the story, through his suffering he comes to realize the reality of his situation. It is through his suffering that he realizes he has made mistakes, and realizes that only by owning up to that and making some resolve to change, is his situation going to improve. This is often the case with us, that only when our actions catch up with us do we realize the seriousness of our actions. 

Realizing it was his own deeds that caused his troubles, and remembering that his fathers house was a place of refuge, he next determines to return to his father. So it is with us.  However because of his misdeeds he no longer feels worthy to return to his father as a son. Instead he desires to be a hired servant. We must humble ourselves and return to Him, with full intent to right our wrongs and correct our mistakes. But don't let the perceived seriousness of your sins prevent you from doing so. Many will feel so unworthy because of their guilt and shame that they will not even try. No matter what you have done, moping about it or trying to pretend is not going to change anything. Just try to do better and keep trying. 

Now despite the son's feelings of unworthiness and his plea to be a servant, notice the loving father's reaction.  There is no judgement, no condemnation. He instead runs towards his son who has returned home. He embraces him. And he celebrates that his son has come back by having a feast.  He responds with understanding and compassion.  He knows what his son has been through and he knows what his son will yet have to go through. 

Now the other son returns home to find his brother has returned, but that he had lost his inheritance. He initially feels saddened that his father is celebrating. He feels as though his efforts have not been justly rewarded. So his father comes out to comfort him. The good son bears out his feelings, so the father explains to him this important principle. 

The father explains to him that he has received his inheritance. The father tells his son that all that the father possesses, he will possess. Recall, the rebellious son has already received his inheritance and squandered it. He cannot get it back. Though he is forgiven and accepted back into his fathers home, he cannot regain what was lost. All he can do is move forward. 

Now God is loving like unto the father in this parable. But His love and His forgiveness will not take away the consequences of our choices and actions. There is a place in his kingdom for all that choose to return to His presence. But it is so much better that we not squander our inheritances. We will have to deal with the consequences whether we return to Him or not. And justice demands that He cannot take the glory that His righteous servants have and give it to those who have lost theirs. If God could or would take away the consequences then He would be robbing us of our opportunities. It would be as as though to say that "It doesn't matter what you choose, I will override your choice and reward you regardless." Much of this is a topic for another time.  

But my main point I want to leave with my readers is that love and forgiveness do not take away the consequences. If we sin we must still deal with the results. If I rob a bank and then say that God forgives me and do not return the money, I am still a theif, and the law will still hold me accountable. Every sin must be made right. That's where the atonement comes in. Till next time.