The Prodigal's Empty Chair

I read the story of the Prodigal Son this morning and a thought came to mind that I don't recall hearing before. We've all read this story or heard it in some fashion. At least, I think if you're reading this post you have heard it. Here is the short version.

Wealthy family going about their business. The youngest son decides he wants his inheritance early. Father obliges him and he takes off to live it up in the big city. Eventually, the money runs out and so do the friends and he ends up living in a pigpen, the antiquated equivalent of a cardboard box in an alley.

One day, he wakes up and realizes he's living like a pig. He remembers he comes from a kind and loving family who feeds their pigs better than he is eating. Reasoning he can't do any worse, he heads home and his father greets him with open arms and a blowout party. 

Older son hears the noise and has a fit. This is his inheritance they're spending now. 

Most sermons that use this story to express the forgiveness and loving kindness of God. They point out that no matter how far we go, how low we sink, how disgusting we live, God will always welcome us back into his fold and give us a place at his table. It's a beautiful story about the grace and mercy of God. This morning I got something different from it.

It's true God will forgive us and welcome us back home again. He will allow us to enjoy the bounty of his house. As long as we stay there and abide by his teachings and his (forgive me for this bad word) rules.

Yeah, I said it. There're rules at Dad's house. Remember when you lived with your parents and you had to follow all those rules? You couldn't wait to get out of there and do your own thing. Then.... you lost your job and had to go home to live with Mom and Dad again. But hey, you're an adult now. What can they do? Then you find out the truth. Mom and Dad haven't changed. The rules are still there.

We will always be welcome in our Father's arms. We will always have his love. But we still have to follow his rules. There are still requirements to reap the benefits of his bounty. He desires to share with us, but he can't be in the presence of sin. It is impossible for him to live with it. To do so would make him less than God. He will not hold second place to anything, for anyone.

We can go home and receive a grand welcome. But if we leave again, we will leave it behind and in this story there is no portion for the Prodigal Son to take with him this time. Everything belongs to the faithful son who stays in his Father's house and cares for the Father and his inheritance. He gets up, goes to work, plants, waters, and reaps the harvest. He shears the livestock, feeds and milks the cows. He deals with the laborers and sees that the house is in good repair. He enjoys the company and love of his Father. And he follows the rules.

The Prodical will ALWAYS be a Prodical as long as he is away from home. If he comes home and leaves again, he will be a Prodigal. He will die a Prodigal if he does not return. He is eternally denied his rightful place at the table.

You can't live in the pigpen of sin and live in the Father's house. You may visit, but that doesn't make you a son. You may show up on holidays and special occasions to share a meal, but that doesn't make you a son. Guest are welcome at the Father's house but if they leave unchanged, they are still only guests.

To be a son, you must return to stay. And you must follow His rules. You don't have to be perfect, you just have to strive to be like your Father every day. Remember those dinners when you were a kid and all your relatives got together? Someone was always dropping things, spilling things, talking too loud. But it was an amazing place to be! You could have stayed there forever. No one remembered the spilled food, broken glasses, and loud talking. All you remember is the love you felt sitting in that room with your family, people you loved and that loved you.

In the Father's house, the table is always ready for family gatherings when you get home and filled with love. You can eat every meal at that table. But only if you live there. I want to sit at His table forever.

I'll save you a seat.