Henri J. M. Nouwen has written a wonderful little book called The Return of the Prodigal
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| Henri J.M. Nouwen |
While studying the painting, Nouwen at first focuses on the image of the young prodigal,who, after squandering his inheritance on worldly pleasures, ended up an utterly broken man—at his lowest point, wallowing in a pigsty. Nouwen ponders several questions. Why, despite the son’s utter sinfulness and folly, had the father so readily received this son back into the bosom of his family? Why the lavish welcome feast and celebration when the boy deserved nothing but contempt and rejection? Most importantly, how could the father, without the merest hesitation, have extended his sinful son such complete and unconditional love and forgiveness?
After further meditation, Nouwen recognized that two other characters in Rembrandt’s painting deserved attention as well: the father and the jealous eldest son. The eldest son had been the dutiful child, always respectful and carrying out his father’s every wish with an obedient heart. So, when his scoundrel brother received their father’s open-armed welcome, replete with tears and preparations for a banquet to celebrate his homecoming, the elder brother seethed with anger and resentment. All his life he’d done everything right, while his brother had done everything wrong. So how could their father be so blind to his eldest son’s goodness and his youngest son’s wickedness? How could their father forgive his corrupt young brother so quickly and completely? How could the father divide his wealth—the brothers’ inheritance—equally between the two?
Nouwen subtly challenges the reader to put him or herself in the place of each of the parable’s characters. He asks us to honestly examine ourselves, then identify which character most describes us. Are we the broken prodigal who longs to put off his filthy garments and bathe in God’s forgiveness? Are we the eldest resentful son who glories in his own self-righteousness? Or do we most represent the father who extends grace, forgiveness, and acceptance to those who least deserve them?
I most identify with the eldest son. If I am honest, it is so easy for me to look at another’s faults and ignore my own. In other words, I am just as filthy, strutting around in my self-righteous garments, as the elder brother. Isaiah tells me that there are “none righteous, not one,” and that compared to God’s holiness and righteousness, “all my righteousness is as filthy rags.” The prophet declares that compared to Holy God Almighty, all the good works I can ever do in this life will never measure up to God’s goodness and perfect righteousness. Talk about a prodigal! My often self-righteous attitude places me right smack inside that pigsty, floundering around in the muck right alongside that prodigal son.
The good news is that we have a loving Father God Who understands our shortcomings. None of us can lead perfect, sinless lives. That’s why He “gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him [Jesus] should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16, 17). It’s hard to think of Jesus as a prodigal. But His work on the cross—His becoming sin and paying the price of atonement for our sinfulness—made him the ultimate prodigal Son, a forsake wretch unworthy of the Father’s love and acceptance. But when the work of defeating sin and satan was done, Father God Who is Love, prepared a banquet for Jesus in Heaven and welcomed Him home.
Every day, through prayer and meditation, I understand more and more how to enter into the secret place where God dwells. Focusing on Him, I am beginning to understand my own brokenness and how great is the unconditional love God has for me. Without Jesus Iam nothing; with Jesus I am everything. I am on my way home.
Pam
During one of the snowy days we’ve had recently, I did something I rarely do. I watched TV
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| Ravi Zacharias |
Ravi is a Christian apologist and has written many books that focus predominantly on Christianity's answers to life's great existential questions. He stated in the interview that Christianity differs from all other world religions in that it offers a savior, a propitiation for our sins that is totally undeserved and has nothing to do with our own efforts. In every other world religion, the follower has to rely on his or her personal abilities to follow the dictates of religion. The level of success in following those dictates determines whether the follower is or isn’t righteous—i.e., right with God. Only Christianity offers justification by faith alone.
If you read the above scripture out of context and without the benefit of the New Testament, you might be inclined to get depressed or discouraged. Most people try hard to be a good person, and to be told all those efforts are but “filthy rags” may seem rather harsh. Yet, when taken in context and against the perspective of the New Testament, Isaiah 64:6 is one of the most freeing biblical verses. We are justified by faith (Rom 3:28). Our relationship with God is not dependent on our own pitiful abilities. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has made us right with our heavenly Father. Because of Jesus, God sees believers as righteous (Eph.1:4). His love for us is neither diminished nor elevated by our performance or behavior. His grace, His unmerited favor, has nothing to do with our efforts and everything to do with Jesus. As the hymn says, He paid it all.
To me, this means being a Christian doesn’t have to become yet another self-improvement project. How great is that? I’m right with the Creator of the entire universe just as I am. In a world that relentlessly sends the message that we can never be good enough, rich enough, smart enough, thin enough, successful enough, etc., it is wonderfully freeing to realize that I am perfect and whole in the eyes of God. And His opinion is the only one that counts.
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