Time and time again throughout the prophets, God calls the people of Israel to return to Him. This was the message that was carried all the way to the time of John the Baptist when he was telling people about the coming Messiah and the urgency to return to Gog. This is the message of the New Testament, for the fallen, sinful creations of God to return to Him, and it’s really described beautifully in Luke 15. 

Luke 15 contains the record of three parables Jesus told, the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. The sinners and tax collectors were drawn to Jesus. Upon seeing this, the Pharisee’s said accused Jesus of receiving sinners and eating with them. They looked at this as reprehensible. No self-respecting Jewish leader would associate with such vile people. Jesus takes the opportunity to teach about His mission, to seek and save the lost.

The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man’s redemption. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to him, yet not desirous to return. Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home. In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost, is one piece of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of to bring lost souls home to Himself, and the Savior’s joy on their return to him. The parable of the lost son shows the nature of repentance, and the Lord’s readiness to welcome and bless all who return to him.

It is the Shepherd who rejoices when the sheep is found, the woman when the piece of money is in her hand, the Father when His child is in His arms. What an expression of that which God is! How truly is Jesus the one to make it known! It is on this that all the blessing of man can alone be founded. It is in this that God is glorified in His grace.

We were once the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost child. Thanks be to God who sent Jesus to find us, show us the nature of our sins and bring us home.

The message of the prophets in the Old Testament shows the nature of God has never changed. The Lord wants us to be with Him, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). 

When we find ourselves drifting from God, return to Him. When we find ourselves away from the safety of God, return to Him! We will find rest for our souls, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30)

By: Justin Odom