Come Home

INTRODUCTION

Good morning!

My name is David Sorn. I’m the Lead Pastor of Renovation Church.

I was traveling last week, and I was at an airport…ready to come home.

And as I was walking down the terminal hall, I saw something on the floor that made me really sad.

There, right in the middle of the floor, laying on its side, was this really cute teddy bear.

It had probably fallen out of some child’s backpack without them knowing.

And I paused and I thought, “Do I pick it up? Put it somewhere? Bring it to someone?”

And I thought, “no, just leave it. The family will probably try to retrace their steps and look for it where they walked”

But then I thought:

What if they were already at baggage claim?

Or, did they already get on a flight to somewhere else in the world?

And I didn’t even know who lost it, but I just felt sad.

There’s something in our hearts that understands and feels sadness for the things that are lost.

“And Jesus once told a story about how God feels that way about people who are lost from Him.

And I want to show you that in the Bible today.

Luke 15:11-32

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Go ahead and grab a Bible; there is one at every chair.

The passage won’t be on the screen or anything, so you’ll want to pick it up.

You are at what is called a Bible-Teaching church.

That means we just teach through the Bible every week to help you understand it and apply it to your life.

By the way, if you need a Bible, or want to start investigating what the Christian faith is all about, take that Bible with you.

There’s even a QR code in the front cover that has a Bible Reading Plan for you.

Okay, we are in the book of Luke today, which is one of the 4 books of the Bible about the life of Jesus

And today, we’re going to study one of Jesus’ parables (which is a short story with a point

I’m going to read the whole story, and then we’ll talk through it

(Luke 15:11-32)

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 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.
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.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

#1: WE MUST WANT THE FATHER, NOT JUST WHAT HE CAN GIVE US

Okay, this a beautiful story…with so much meaning.

And in many ways, this is a story about coming home.

Which is something God wants for all of us.

To come home, into His presence…for the father in the story represents God Himself, our Father in Heaven.

But if we are to come home, there are, in this story, 3 incredibly important truths we first need to learn about coming home

3 Incredibly Important Truths about Coming Home

#1: We must first want the Father, not just what He can give us

So think of how this story starts:

The younger son comes to the father and asks for his share of the estate.

He’s asking for his inheritance.

But typically, in those days, just like today, one didn’t get their inheritance until the father actually died.

And so for the son to say, “Give me my inheritance now,” is not all that different than him saying, “I don’t need you. At all. I just want your money.“

And this is not all that different from how modern people tend to treat God.

Even if you don’t normally go to church, most people still want “something” from God. We maybe even feel entitled to it.

We want a good life.

Maybe someone to marry.

Health

Money, and so forth

And when we don’t get it, often we get frustrated, even mad at God

WE want “the Father in heaven” to give us His blessings, but we’re not all that interested in living under His house…under His teachings, or in a relationship with Him.

In fact, many people today feel like the pathway to joy and happiness is by living much like the younger son tried.

A lot of us feel (some say it out loud & some don’t) that we would be happiest if we just went out and did whatever we wanted

And while I’ll admit that that may feel good for a moment, it always ends in despair.

Much like the younger son in this parable…who I’m sure probably enjoyed his “wild living” at first, but eventually it just led to pain.

And what’s fascinating is that you can’t find joy in the opposite direction either.

A lot of people come to the opposite false conclusion: They say true life is found in avoiding all of the vices and sins of the world and just being sure to obey all of the commandments and rules, and so forth”

But Jesus is teaching that that’s not where true life is found either!

Because remember, that’s what the older brother tried!

And it didn’t work for him!

He’s actually kind of stuck up and miserable…

And if you think even deeper about it, you’ll realize that the older brother actually just wanted the same thing as his younger brother.

He just wanted what his Father could give him.

When the older brother got all mad about the party the Father was throwing for the younger son, the older son said (this is verse 29):

“Look! All these years I’ve been SLAVING for you (wow! That’s an intense word…slaving)…”

…”and never disobeyed your orders (I’ve been a good little boy!)

…”Yet, you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends!”

What does he want?

Not a relationship with his father, he just wants the father to GIVE him something.

But his father says in verse 31:

“My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours”

In other words, “You’ve had me this whole time…and everything I have!”

And this is our first truth coming to light: If we’re truly going to come Home and TRULY experience God, we have to want God for God, not just for what He can give us.

Otherwise, we end up sort of being like the adult child who never really texts or reaches out to their parents anymore.

But every other month, they call home, but only because they need something.”

“Dad, can you help me move?”

“Dad, can I borrow some money?”

“Dad, can you give me ____?”

Eventually, a father in that situation will realize that their child doesn’t actually want a relationship, they just want their father’s stuff.

And what God wants, first & foremost…is you. It’s your heart.

And it’s critical to know that truth if you’re gonna come home

#2: LIFE IS FOUND IN HUMILITY

Okay, let’s take a look at the 2nd truth about coming home

3 Incredibly Important Truths about Coming Home

#1: We must first want the Father, not just what He can give us

#2: The way home is on the “road of humility”

Humility is hard.

Pride, believing you can do it on your own, is much easier.

I see this in my own life so many times.

For example: Back in early 2018, we got one of those ice storms, that eventually turned into snow.

And my good friend Ryan Speck called me on the Saturday night of the storm and said, “Do you want me to come over and snowblow your driveway tomorrow morning before church?”

I’ve had a ton of shoulder dislocations in my lifetime, and he didn’t want me to slip and fall before church.

But I said, “Nah! I’ll be fine! No problem! I don’t need help.”

So I set my alarm for 5:30am Sunday morning, went outside, got about 90 seconds into shoveling, and BAM, slipped and dislocated my shoulder…and the church that morning had to watch an old video of me teaching from 5 years earlier

…because I spent all morning in the ER

They actually had to put me under to get it popped back in

So often our pride is our undoing.

But humility opens up so many doors for us.

You can see that in the turning point of the first part of this story.

It’s in verse 17…when the younger son is longing to eat the food of the pigs, and the Bible says, “When the younger son…came to his senses”

That is…he came to see life as it really is.

And he has this “what am I doing” moment.

It’s like he’s thinking clearly for the first time.

He says, “even my father’s servants eat waaaayy better than this”

“And my father is a good man, and…I should go home”

And it’s not just that he realizes that he used to have it good.

It’s that he can finally see himself for who he really is.

He says, “I’m going to go home and tell my dad that I am no longer worthy to be called your son. I’ve sinned against heaven and you”

What’s happening?

He’s been humbled.

And that’s a blessing.

Because “the way home is on the ‘road of humility’”

Again, the older brother is an intentional contrast here.

He’s not humbled at all.

He’s completely blind to his arrogance, pride, and self-righteousness.

He’s walking around, saying, “I’ve never done anything wrong!”

He does what most prideful people do, and he draws lines.

He’s on the good side, and his younger brother is on the bad side.

And so the older brother misses out on the feast, and the party (which in the parable represents heaven) because he can’t see his own sin and shortcomings.

Listen to me:

It’s not the depth of our sin that keeps us from God, but the height of our pride.

And while there are many different reasons for suffering, sometimes, God in his mercy & love for you, will allow things to happen in your life that will lead you to your “eating with the pigs” moment.

He’ll allow things to happen in your life so he can free you from the very pride that’s keeping you from Him…and from eternal life.

Maybe that’s even what brought you here today.

Or you’ve hit rock bottom in your addiction

Or poor financial choices have brought difficulty in your life

Maybe an important relationship just ended.

I don’t doubt that what you’re going through in the moment hurts, and perhaps hurts tremendously, but sometimes that pain is a gift.

Because it’s the pain that opens our eyes and lowers our pride.

It causes us to say, for the first time, “What am I doing here with the pigs?”

“I can’t do this by myself anymore.”

And when you can say that, you’re starting to walk on the road of humility

The road to God.

The road home.

#3: GOD’S GRACE IS MORE AMAZING THAN MOST EVER IMAGINE

3 Incredibly Important Truths about Coming Home

#1: We must first want the Father, not just what He can give us

#2: The way home is on the “road of humility”

But for a lot of us, there’s an obstacle between truth 2 and 3 (that’s coming)

The question for many of us is: “I know now that I need God, but can I come home?”

“Would God accept me?”

“After what I’ve done?”

That’s what the younger son is wrestling with.

He’s pretty sure his father will never forgive him.

That’s why he comes up with that plan to just live as a hired servant for his Father.

But his Father, who represents our Father in heaven, has amazing grace…and forgiveness.

And this is the 3rd incredibly important truth I want you to know about coming home to God.

3 Incredibly Important Truths about Coming Home

#1: We must first want the Father, not just what He can give us

#2: The way home is on the “road of humility”

#3: God’s grace is more amazing than most ever imagine

Listen, this story comes from an ancient culture where respect for elders, especially one’s father, was of extreme importance.

If a son ever took his father’s inheritance early and squandered it, most men would never, EVER, accept their son home again.

Their son had brought shame to their family.

But the younger son comes within sight of his house, and what does the Bible say the Father does?

(verse 20) It says, while the son was still a long way off (so the father just barely sees him in the distance…but recognizes him the way he walks)

And the Word of God says, “the Father has COMPASSION (not hatred, not anger, not resentment) COMPASSION for him, and he runs to his son

He ran!

And listen, distinguished middle eastern fathers did NOT run.

But this father doesn’t care. He loves his child so much!

He finds him, embraces him, puts his best robe on him, and immediately starts a party of celebration!

The lost son has come home!

This is a beautiful picture of the magnitude and size of God’s grace and forgiveness…for you.

And it’s seen not just in this story, but in why Jesus came to earth in the first place.

Elsewhere in the Bible, Romans chapter 5 says this

(Romans 5:6-8) – NIV

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

And listen, Jesus still had to die for sins.

This doesn’t teach (like some people think) that God just loves us and doesn’t care about sin (our wrongdoings)

No, the Bible takes sin seriously.

We’ve all fallen short of God’s standards, His law, His rules, and so what we really deserve is His judgment.

That is a real separation from God, what the Bible calls hell.

But see, God’s grace and love for you is so massive that Jesus came to die in your place, and if you believe in that, your sins can be forgiven, and you can have eternal life in heaven!

Everything can be washed away in the Heavenly Father’s embrace.

But we all need forgiveness. All of us.

It’s why the Father in the story, in his grace, even went out to the older brother, and offered for him to come into the feast too!

But the older brother hadn’t learned any of the 3 truths yet.

And listen, you can be even what society considers a great person.

You got your degree. You give to the red cross every year. You volunteer at your kid’s school. You’re still married…You never don’t drink too much. You’re a model citizen.

But you can’t earn your way to heaven.

The pathway to heaven is not on a staircase of our good deeds

The pathway to heaven is when we come to our senses and say, “I too, need God’s grace and forgiveness…just like everyone else…and I believe that Jesus died for me…I want to give him my life.”

And I know some of you are on the opposite end of the continuum.

You think that the only way you could ever come back to God the Father is if you cleaned your life up first….

…but that’s not what the Bible says.

What does the Bible say on the screen?

Not, “Once we got holier and cleaned up, Christ died for us”

No, “While we were still sinners”

When the younger son got home, the father didn’t say, “Why don’t you clean yourself up first, and prove you’ve changed. Then, maybe after a year or two, I’ll think about welcoming you back.”

NO! The Father, in his grace, RUNS to His Son and embraces Him

This is God’s heart for the lost.

It’s like, if I had picked up that stuffed animal at the airport and somehow found the child who lost it, how would they respond?

They would hug it and never let go!

That’s God’s heart for you!

It’s like the Christian truth we sang in that song earlier:

My sin was deep
Your grace was deeper
My shame was wide
Your arms were wider
And my guilt was great
Your love was greater still

Not long ago, I heard a story that’s been adapted many times in different ways.. about a young man who had sinned greatly and really messed up his life.

He had left his parents’ home and was in some pretty dark things…never once did he reach out to his parents, return their calls, or respond to their texts.

But not unlike the younger son in our passage today, one day he “came to his senses,” and he decided that he “just wanted to come home”

He wanted to sleep in his own bed. Be hugged by his mom & dad, and start living like he used to when days were simpler.

But he was too afraid to call his parents, so he just sent an email (of all things) to his dad, and said, “Dad, if you’ll take me back, I’m ready to come home, but I’m afraid you won’t let me after what I did.

“So dad, I’ll be on the light rail train next Tuesday. The one that passes by our house. And if you are willing to forgive me, tie a piece of white cloth to the maple tree in our front yard, and I’ll get off at the next stop and come home. But if I don’t see the white cloth, I’ll just keep going”

When Tuesday came, and the son’s train was approaching his house, he turned to the person sitting next to him on the train and said, “I can’t bear to look out the window. When we go by the navy house around the corner, tell me if you see a white cloth in the maple tree.”

When the train went past the house, the son raised his head and said, “What did you see? Was there a piece of white cloth in the tree??”

And the person sitting next to him said, “Honestly, I couldn’t even really see the tree. It was completely covered in white cloth”

That is God’s heart for you.

Come home.