A Parable of God’s Mercy For You!

11And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17″But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”‘ 20And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.23And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25″Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.26And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'”

Luke 15:11-32

This is a parable that was told by Isa al Masah. The father in the parable is God who rejoices when people turn away from their sins and come to him asking for mercy. This son took his inheritance and spent it on evil things. After he spent his money on everything he went and hired himself as a servant to someone. He fed pigs, was filthy and was so hungry that he desired to be fed with what the pigs ate.

Then he came to realize that his father’s servants live better than he did. He decided to go ask for mercy from his father.

When he returned to his father how was he greeted. The father ran to him and hugged and kissed him and received him. Not only that but he rejoiced over his return. This shows us that God is not angry with us when we repent. We do not need to do anything to gain his approval and acceptence. We don’t need to perform good works or feed the poor or do anything at all. We simply need to turn away from our evil and run into His arms for mercy. What is God’s response? God’s arms are open wide to accept us and give us mercy.

The older son was a good boy and never disobeyed his commands, but he was proud about it and was self-sufficient. We cannot come to God and be self-sufficient in our own works. God alone can save us and his mercy is freely given to us if we come to him seeking it. “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” Isaiah 64:6a If we seek to be righteous by our own works we will always fail. We are born touched by sin. Only Isa is the exception to this. God gives mercy and makes righteous. As David said, “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Psalms 32:1-2. Our good works will never outweigh our evil works.

We absolutely MUST trust in God’s mercy and love to forgive our sins. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Romans 5:8-9 The fact that Isa died on the cross is vindicated by history and is shown to be the belief of Christians since right after Isa left the scene of history. Isa al Masah died for your sins that God would forgive you of them. It is the mercy of God we must trust in as was given to us through the cross. There is one mediator between God and men the man al Masah Isa. His death and resurrection are the only way for you to receive mercy from God.