Thoughts on Isolation and Reunion

The Story of 'The Prodigal' in Luke 15:11-32

March 24 (pm), 1996

There are three characters in this drama. The drama itself is about the sadness of separation, and the joy of reunion, and about what it means to really be a part of a loving family.

There are three kinds of sadness represented, which really come from the very same source. That source, as we have already said, is separation, isolation, being shut away in one's time of need.

First Separation

The First separation is obvious. The sadness and pain is that of a person in a corner, at the end of things. It is the sadness of a person who perhaps has been selfish and thoughtless and now is out of luck. He comes to himself when he comes to the very bottom.

We know that this man, the Prodigal, comes home, and there is finally a "happy ending." But at the same time we cannot gloss over the pain this man felt. We can only imagine the wreck and ruin which his descent into the abuse of his gifts brought on his head. The fact that he was saved in the end is wonderful— and it tells us a great deal about the mercies of God. But there was terrible pain involved along the way.

Some time ago the Reader's Digest had a story about a Prodigal. Rev. Gordon Weekly was a highly successful Baptist minister who became addicted to drugs, first through prescriptions, and then through alcoholism and worse. He let his story be told so others might have hope, but also so others might not presume on God's grace.

This man who was at times a co-worker with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Team in South America and other places found himself separated from all spiritual reality in Christ. He lost his great church, he lost his marriage, he ended up on skid row and nearly lost his life before Rev. Grady Wilson challenged him to give himself and his failure to Jesus. He did. God restored him. But God did not go back and change history! Gordon Weekly is doing God's work now— but don't deny the pain that was there before he came back.

Second Separation

The Second separation is obvious also. The older brother's pain is that of a person who harbors bitterness of spirit in the presence of other people's good fortune. It is the overwhelming gloom and sadness of an unforgiving spirit. It is a sadness that is twisted in on itself, that says "Let the sinner suffer! Sinners deserve hell!"

We don't know how the separation began in this father-son relationship, but it was not in the lack of love of the father. It was in the heart, the selfish heart, of the older brother. "You never gave me so much as a scrawny goat to party with!" The son exploded at the father. He was angry because the older man's heart was still warm toward his prodigal brother.     

 It is hard to feel sorry for the elder brother. But his pain is real. And the danger is real that he probably will never really be happy! He almost seems to hold on to his misery like he holds on to his self-righteousness. He is right and everyone else— even GOD Himself is wrong!

Third Separation

The Third separation is that which the great father in the story experienced, separation from both of his sons.. His sadness and pain is undeserved. Think about it: this man suffered the loss of his younger son for a period of time. But he kept watch, and when he got the chance he ran out to meet him. I can understand that kind of love a little bit.

 But this good man also had suffered the alienation of his older son. In separating himself from his brother and from his father he caused his dad as much grief as the younger man had done in his wastrel sin!

This third great sadness is the sadness of God the Father when we, His children, separate ourselves from His great love!

We Don't Know how the story ends. After all it was just a story, and all the more true for it. But it almost seems that Jesus is saying it is easier for down-and-outers to repent and find peace and happiness than it is for bitter-of-spirit and self-righteous Christians to ever really find peace.

I feel sorry for those who experience the isolation of sin. No one can suffer entirely to himself/herself. Every sad story is the story of multiple heart-ache.    

 I feel sorry for those who experience the isolation of bitterness and an un-forgiving spirit. Hell has already begun on earth for them. Those who cannot forgive are doomed to shut themselves away from forgiveness. It is a sad thing to be right, to be where you ought to be— and be terribly wrong in spirit.     

 It may well be that many of us don't need to worry too much about being taken for Prodigals. But we are all in danger of being judgmental "older brother" types, apart from the love of Christ.

It is sobering to think of the great sorrow that God feels as He watches his children go on in isolation and sorrow. I believe God the Father doesn't just want us to be "good." He wants to welcome them into the warmth and fellowship of his great home! The lights are on! The band is playing! The table is groaning! There are children returning, and the father is rejoicing. But he is also watching for others to come— and he is surprised and saddened that some who never went away to the far country refuse to really come into the house!

We all experience times of stress and sorrow— even times of isolation and loneliness in this world. But there is an isolation and a sadness and a loneliness which we do NOT need to experience. God loves every one of us! He wants us to share His home, His house, be a part of His family!

God is ACTIVELY SEEKING to break into your isolation— He wants, He waits— to welcome you home! to bring you INSIDE!

Prayer

Hymn No. 607 Just a Closer Walk with Thee

OR

No. 337 (Sing to the Lord) - Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling