S T O N E S
What Stone Will You Let Jesus Roll Away Today?
May 26th, 2023
the PRODIGAL: LOST and FOUND
Luke 24:2, ‘But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.’ (NKJV)
“I love the imagery of the stone that covered Jesus’ tomb rolling away when He defeated death. The reality is, we all have stones in our lives…but the good news is: Jesus Christ rolls stones away!” (Christine Caine)
Luke 15:20b-24, ‘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. The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 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.’ (NIV)
There are not many things as painful as the fear we feel for a lost son or daughter. Sometimes, that can even be literally. You still remember exactly how she smelled when you brought her out of the nightly bubble bath, the fragrance of soap and baby lotion soft upon her skin. You will always hear the sound of your little boy’s giggle as he hid in the back of the closet, betting you couldn’t possibly find him. You see the A’s—and also the D’s—on the report cards, knowing for so long you brushed away the internal nudging that something was going wrong, that things were shifting. You look at every inch notched on the doorframe; you remember what all those growing pains cost; you’d do it all over again…if he or she would just come home.
Sometimes, relationships with our children—or with our parents—go missing. Maybe disagreements have befallen you, and now stand in the way of the joy you once pictured you would feel at this stage of the game. I understand. My three daughters and I haven’t spoken in almost four years, and the sound of their laughter, not to mention the laughter of my grandchildren, has grown faint. Had I known our relationships were so tangible, so easily tarnished and lost, I would have memorized the trace of their breath on my cheek when they said ‘good night’; I would have captured every minute detail and transcribed it on pages in a journal and recorded the gift of their mannerisms and all the precious things little ones say. Had I known…but all too often we are not given warnings such as these.
But what we do have is the promise of a hurting Father Who understands the grief for a child who has walked away, who He anxiously awaits the return of everyday. He is the expectant Father Who has stood at the window, looking out, watching the winding dirt road hour after hour, dreaming of the return. He is the patient Father Who has glimpsed the shadow of the arrival long before he or she has rounded the bend. He is the loving Father Who crosses the barrier of time and distance in one momentary stride and makes it next to His child’s side before a breath can be taken. He is the forgiving Father Who wipes away the stain of shame and separation in graceful arms of acceptance.
He knows your pain and mine, and He also knows the perfect timing to reunite families torn apart by misunderstandings and unforgiveness, and ultimately, the enemy’s promise to steal, kill and destroy the family unit. He also knows the joy that comes when a Prodigal returns home because our Father felt the same joy as my parents did when I came ‘home’, and the angels sang as loudly as I did when my son yielded His life to Jesus. We must never stop believing and hoping and praying for the return of our children and the repair of broken relationships. After all, the heart of God the Father caused Him to send His only Son to this world to bring His children home, back to Him, for eternity.
“IT IS FINISHED!”
