The elder, the older brother, in this story is the faithful one. He stayed home and did all the right things. He helped his father take care of the home, barns, fences, and animals. He did not waist his or his father's money.
He was the "good" son. Jesus said, "If you love me you will keep my commandments." The elder brother did just that.
Later in this story he became angry that the runaway son came home and was given a party. When his father saw his anger he pulled him aside and told him not to be jealous. He was his faithful son and anything he had wanted all he had needed to do was just ask. If you are obedient to the truths and words of your Father-in-Heaven you have complete access to the throne.
The GOOD NEWS is even the runaway son can repent forgiven! If we repent and ask forgiveness God is faithful to forgive us and restore our relationship with Him. We regain the “open door” status with God.
If the repentant Christian asked that his many sins be forgiven (impatience, anger, selfishness, prejudices, reckless words and speach that wounds others, addictions and lust), then he must be willing to likewise forgive his errant brothers and sisters.
Hardness of the heart is not unforgivable by God; however, it is one sin that dooms more people to hell (even to a hell on earth) than the most favorite vices of Satan. Why, is that? Unforgiveness is seldom recognized as sin and therefore we don’t ask forgiveness for it like we do for thief or sexual deviance, for example.
We continually hear, "I didn't do anything wrong; he/she is the one who wronged me." "It's not my problem." "I'm happy, I even sing in the church choir." "So I must be okay, with God." We easily forget the verse where Jesus denies entrance into Heaven to those who are protesting, "We cured the sick and cast out demons in Your name." Jesus replies, “Depart form me for I never knew you.
Paul warned that all the "good" we do and say is just clanging cymbals and tinkling bells if we don't operate in love. A client in my office brought up the subject of an offence he had suffered from a friend and how it had all but destroyed their relationship. His stated, "I do love him and I pray for him, but we will never be real friends any more. You can probably relate to that way of thinking among some of your own acquaintances.
Forgiveness is NOT forgiveness until you can run to the other person hug them and invite them to dinner as though nothing had ever happened. This is one of Satan's favorite ways of cutting off the blessings of your Father to you. He loved us so much Jesus died for us even while we were still ignoring Him and some of us even hating Him. He wants His children to have the same heart He has toward all people even those who abuse us.
The citizens of Nazareth were not able to receive healing and miracles from the very hand of God; because, their minds were made up. To them Jesus was the son of Joseph and Mary. They would see it no other way. They hardened their hearts toward all attempts to show them anything else. They drove Him from their city.
When they heard reports of all the wonders happening at His hand from surrounding villages what were their thoughts do you imagine?
1. We were wrong let us repent (turn our thinking around) and invite Him back.
2. Don’t those ‘dummies’ know He is NOT the Son of God? He is just a con artist.
Hardness of the heart is usually ‘self-righteousness’ or pride. In either case the problem lies in the inability to see a need for repentance thus sealing ones doom.
We say, “If he crawls on his knees long enough; if he/she comes to me first - then I will forgive.”
These same people (none of us are exempt from this disease – but we must recognize it immediately and get rid of it to live) have no problem bowing to God, whom they perceive as a ‘greater’ power, and asking His mercy; but will quickly condemn any contemporary (particularly one of less status than themselves) for any offense they have caused. We perceive that God knows we mean well and after all we are so good.
We forget He wrote "As you measure so shall it be measured back unto you." "As you sow so shall you reap." Jesus asked, "When I was naked; did you clothe me?" James wrote, "You say you have faith? I will show you my faith by my works."
“You know well how to excuse and color your own deeds; but you are not willing to receive the excuses of others. It would be more just to accuse yourself, and excuse your brother.” Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471 A.D.)
To excuse those who can come up with proper and acceptable excuses is not to show oneself a charitable Christian; that is only being fair.
To be a Christian means to excuse and forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in us.
It is perhaps not so hard to forgive a single injury. But to forgive the reoccurring transgressions that come our way daily -- to keep forgiving the cutting tongues of co-workers, uninvited ridicule, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish and deceitful son or daughter – becomes the most difficult of all things and ultimately more dangerous even than the desires of our own flesh. We often scream, “It’s just so unfair!”
Remember, Peter even asked Jesus, “Shall we forgive seven (7) times in a day? And Jesus’ answer to him was, “No; seventy (70) times seven (7).” In short He was saying there is not limit to forgiveness.
We need to realize that it is not just a form of ‘religiosity.’ Not a ritual to be recited when we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." God expects us to mean it.
I am convinced we are offered forgiveness from God on NO other terms.
To refuse to forgive means to harden your heart towards the one who needs forgiveness. No, you cannot say in your heart, “I forgive them; but, I will never talk to them again.” Did Jesus forgive you of all your evil then never hug and kiss you again?
I stand before you forgiven or condemned by the very words on this page. There is not even a hints in scripture of any exceptions; and there are no scriptures in which God has ever, ever, graded on a curve. He never allowed forgiveness based on balancing scales to determine whether one is “more good than evil.” God means what He says and says what He means. Understanding these principles will keep us in good relationship with our Heavenly Father.
RWGrace Oct. 24, 2006
