Matney: When God ran
In many respects, religion is about man trying to find God. But when Jesus came to Earth, it was about God trying to find man. Even in the Garden of Eden, God said, Adam, where are you? See Genesis 3:9. And in Luke chapter 15, Jesus gives three stories that illustrate God looking for man.
The first story is the parable of the lost sheep. Ninety-nine sheep are safe in the fold, but one is lost. The good shepherd goes looking for the lost sheep. When he finds it, he celebrates. Jesus concludes the story by saying, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
The second story is the parable of the lost coin. A woman has 10 silver coins, and she loses one. She carefully searches her house until she finds it. She then calls her friends and neighbors together to share the good news. Jesus again concludes by saying the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who has been found.
The third story Jesus tells is the parable of the lost son. In this story, a man has two sons. The younger son demands that his father give him his inheritance and he leaves home. The young man lived fast and loose and completely squandered his inheritance. And now he was returning home full of shame and fear. Would his father take him back? He had to risk it. He had nowhere else to turn.
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.
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Notice, the father was looking for the son and saw him a long way off. I imagine every few hours the father would scan the distant horizon looking for his son. And I imagine he would walk down the path to see even farther, hoping to see his son. The father was looking for his lost son.
Then, one day the father saw his son coming home! And notice, he ran to his son. There is a song titled, “When God Ran,” that captures this tender moment of grace between the father and his prodigal son. The lyrics are: “The only time I ever saw him run was when he ran to me. He took me in his arms, held my head to his chest, and said my son’s come home again. He lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes, and with forgiveness in his voice said, son do you know I still love you? He caught me by surprise when God ran.”
I see God as the immovable, unshakeable, almighty creator of heaven and Earth, seated on the throne of the universe, but I had never thought of God running. Yet this is the picture Jesus drew to emphasize God’s love. God runs in love to those who humbly cry for reconciliation, and he embraces them with his whole heart.
Beloved, you and I are the prodigals God is looking for. We’ve lived beneath God’s best for us. But when we, like the prodigal son, come humbly before him, God forgives us. “The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be your son,” in Luke 15:21. But notice the father’s response:
“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. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate,” in verses 22-24.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing and asked what was going on. “Your brother has come home,” they replied. “Your father is celebrating because he has him back safe and sound.”
The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So, his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you. Yet you never even gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
“My son,” the father said in Luke 15:25-32. “You are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 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.”
He was lost and has been found. This is the heartbeat of God. In Luke 19:10, Jesus said, referring to himself, The Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.
Friend, if you’ve strayed from the Father’s house, simply whisper the name of Jesus in repentance and faith, and God will joyfully run to you with love and forgiveness and the angels of heaven will rejoice, singing, “Welcome back (insert your name here)! You are welcome in Father’s house!”
Dan Matney is the pastor at New Life Assembly of God in Avon. Email him at pastordanmatney@hotmail.com.
