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The Father’s Own Garment
Ellen G. White, in Christ’s Object Lessons, pages 203, 204, adds an interesting detail to the story that’s not found in the texts themselves. Describing the scene of the father approaching the son as he humbly comes home, she writes: “The father will permit no contemptuous eye to mock at his son’s misery and tatters. He takes from his own shoulders the broad, rich mantle, and wraps it around the son’s wasted form, and the youth sobs out his repentance, saying, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.’ The father holds him close to his side, and brings him home. No opportunity is given him to ask a servant’s place. He is a son, who shall be honored with the best the house affords, and whom the waiting men and women shall respect and serve.
“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.’ ”
What insights does this reference give us into the story as a whole, and what does it tell us about God’s character?
The Father wants, right away, to cover up the shame of the son’s mistakes. What a message for us about learning to let the past go, to not dwell on others’ past mistakes or our own. Some of the worst sins are not known now, but one day will be (1 Cor. 4:5); like Paul, we need to forget what’s past and press toward the future (Phil. 3:13, 14).
Read Luke 15:24. What does the father mean when he says that his son was dead but is alive again? How are we to understand those very strong words?
In the end, there’s no middle ground in the ultimate issues of salvation. When all things finally and totally wrap up (Rev. 21:5), and the great controversy is ended, all humans beings either will be eternally alive or eternally dead. There’s nothing in between.
Certainly something to think about as we make our daily choices, both good and bad, as did the prodigal son.
| THURSDAY | June 2 |
Ellen G. White, in Christ’s Object Lessons, pages 203, 204, adds an interesting detail to the story that’s not found in the texts themselves. Describing the scene of the father approaching the son as he humbly comes home, she writes: “The father will permit no contemptuous eye to mock at his son’s misery and tatters. He takes from his own shoulders the broad, rich mantle, and wraps it around the son’s wasted form, and the youth sobs out his repentance, saying, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.’ The father holds him close to his side, and brings him home. No opportunity is given him to ask a servant’s place. He is a son, who shall be honored with the best the house affords, and whom the waiting men and women shall respect and serve.
“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.’ ”
What insights does this reference give us into the story as a whole, and what does it tell us about God’s character?
The Father wants, right away, to cover up the shame of the son’s mistakes. What a message for us about learning to let the past go, to not dwell on others’ past mistakes or our own. Some of the worst sins are not known now, but one day will be (1 Cor. 4:5); like Paul, we need to forget what’s past and press toward the future (Phil. 3:13, 14).
Read Luke 15:24. What does the father mean when he says that his son was dead but is alive again? How are we to understand those very strong words?
In the end, there’s no middle ground in the ultimate issues of salvation. When all things finally and totally wrap up (Rev. 21:5), and the great controversy is ended, all humans beings either will be eternally alive or eternally dead. There’s nothing in between.
Certainly something to think about as we make our daily choices, both good and bad, as did the prodigal son.
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