Luke 7:11-15, "Not long after that, Jesus went to the village Nain. His disciples were with him, along with quite a large crowd. As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession—a woman's only son was being carried out for burial. And the mother was a widow. When Jesus saw her, his heart broke. He said to her, "Don’t cry.” Then he went over and touched the coffin. The pallbearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I tell you: Get up.” The dead son sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother.” (MSG)
I am the proud mother of three adult children, and they are all indeed a wonderful handful! Are they perfect? No! They are three entirely different, exciting, and sometimes strange creatures! Not one personality is duplicated of any of the others, making for a very comical parenting life. Their careers range from Computer Science/Graphic Designer, Architecture Engineer, Music Producer/Engineer, Trucking Business to Acting/Modeling. Again, three different individuals; the truth is, I am proud of them and love each of them dearly.
Now, as unique, incredible, gifted, handsome, and beautiful as all my children are, they can drive me nuts! Have they made mistakes? Indeed, they have. Yes, they are all adults now, and I was told it gets easier as they get older (I have no idea who started that rumor and lie), but I do not believe that to be true! When they are younger, you have so much more control over them, what they do, where they go, and who they spend time with. But when they become adults, you become more nervous because they do not always have to clue you in on their every decision and move. And for an over-protective parent like me, that can mean a lot of sleepless nights in prayer!
However, it is safe to say that not many parents can sleep soundly until they know their children are safe and in for the night. My eldest child, my daughter; I call her the responsible one who makes sure each child is accountable for what they do or do not do. I still look for her to let me know at night that she has made it home safely, no matter how late it is. I always look forward to hearing the words, “Ma, I’m home.” But, unfortunately, sometimes they get delayed, or sometimes they are in a situation where they cannot call. And it is natural, I think, for a mom or a dad to be anxious until they can get a fix on where their kids are, and the exciting time of relief is when they call you on the phone, come in the door or when they are married and reach their home, and we know everything is okay. Right? The only three individuals I talk to on the phone regularly know to check-in.
Some of the most beautiful words in the English language are, “Mom, Dad, and I’m home.” Do you know a child who is overdue in saying those words?
Let us take another look at our text in a different translation: “Soon afterward Jesus went to a city called Nain [near Nazareth], and His disciples and a large crowd accompanied Him. As He approached the city gate, a dead man was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her [in the funeral procession]. When the Lord saw her, He felt [great] compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” And He came up and touched the bier [on which the body rested], and the pallbearers stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise [from death]!” The man who was dead sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.” (AMP)
Wow! That is a powerful story! And the most comforting words of all for me (as a mother) are these, “…And Jesus gave him back to his mother.”
You know, Jesus is still in the business of giving children back to their parents; even when it appears hopeless, they will never come back. You or someone you know has a son or a daughter who is away right now; spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically. Well, my word of encouragement is this simple word from the Lord. He is still in the business of giving children back to their parents.
Why are children or young people on my mind today or in my reading, because in the past three months, I have received the unfortunate news of a young person committing suicide. I have prayed with family members, trying to find words of encouragement and inspiration. You see, Satan is after our children, family, and marriages. He wants to destroy the family unit, so he plays in the mind of our youth and young adults, where many believe that suicide is the answer; maybe some of them feel hopeless or have been written off as the odd one out of the family or useless. Whatever the case, mistake after mistake, problem after problem, we cannot write our children off as losers, troublemakers, or whatever noun some parents may use in describing a child that has caused nothing but problems.
I know what some of you may say, though, “you do not see how far my child is, or I do not see it as possible, it has been too long, or they have been like this too long. As my sons have both shared: Am I perfect? Not on your life! Not even on our best day, mom! But am I better than where I was (spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically)? Absolutely! Did it happen overnight? Uh…NOPE! Did we make more mistakes even after we were baptized at church? Sure Did, Every Day! But were still redeemable? YES! And so are your children, regardless of their age, what they have done, where they have been, or how long it has been.
Some more words that my sons shared. They were blessed enough to have mentoring men to cross their path at school and church, and much like Jesus did for the woman’s son in the above Scripture, someone stopped by and spoke life so that they might live again and live better. And that is my intention for you and your children today. So please stop by and talk about life, no matter how dead their situation maybe!
I do not know why specifically, but for some reason, I just thought that this day should be the time when we should talk about this for someone who needs that little word of encouragement. Someone that needs to hear that their children or grandchildren are not lost forever!
I know this to be true and not just because of past youth mistakes and redemption, but from my own children’s lives. All three of them were raised in the church. They were taught about Jesus simultaneously as learning A, B, C’s, and 1,2,3’s. They went to Sunday School, Bible Study, and ALL Church Services. They were on multiple auxiliaries at church. And when it was time to make friends, they were to pick their friends from church! It sounds little nuts, but we pushed our kids hard in the Christian Faith and have no regrets. Did all that keep them saved, sanctified, holy, delivered, and spotless? Heck, I Wish! But the truth is, it did not. They are church kids and preacher’s grandkids, but will I stand here and tell you they have never had a drink of alcohol and never seen the inside of a club, and never touched the sexual line while dating…sorry, but if I’m going to help you, I must be honest with you, and that most certainly is not the case here! They have dated people I wish they never met, lied to us, done things, and gone to places I could erase from my memory bank! As a mom, I would love to un-tattoo, un-pierce, un-drink, and un-do every wrong decision they have ever made in life, but I cannot, and neither can you, and neither can they! But thank God, He brought them back to where they were taught about Jesus, the A B C’s, and the 123’s that they can share with other young adults. He does not need them or us to go back and un-do anything! He can make them whole using all their fractured pieces!
You know better than I do why we are talking about this today. Sometimes, your prayers are not being answered for the one you love. But remember, much of God’s work is invisible. Like plants getting ready to sprout and come out, flowers bloom in the spring. We do not see anything going on all winter, and it looks like nothing is going on under the ground. But God is at work all the time; “when it looks like nothing’s happening, God’s still at work.” And I believe it to be true. So much that God is doing to bring that child home you cannot see. But you’d better believe it is going on under the ground where you cannot see it.
I know you have prayed, fasted, pleaded with God, interceded on their behalf, and still, it looks like nothing is happening. And if you have been in my shoes as a parent, sometimes it seems like the more you pray, the worse they get! I know the feeling of, “Lord, when will you do it for my kid? When will they come back to church? When will they change for the better? When will they turn around? When God…When?” And because I am a counselor and a minister, I know that some of you have even deeper questions such as, “When will they get off drugs? When will they get out of that crack-house? When will he get out of that gang? When will she get out of that abusive relationship? When will he get a job? When will she stop having babies?” The truth is it is not easy being a parent. And sometimes, we want our kids to ‘get that.’ But often will not until they are forced by life to walk in our shoes. However, we will trust our father to keep them and us for the time being! He is the Father of Children like US, and we have done it, said it, and been it, and He yet loves the US unconditionally still, certainly He can be trusted to help us, Parent!
Proverbs 3:5-12, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; do not try to figure out everything yourself. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He is the one who will keep you on track. Please do not assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, and your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, and your wine vats will brim over. But do not, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; do not sulk under His loving correction. It is the child He loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.” (MSG)
Father Knows Best, Is Indeed More Than the Title of a TV Show, But For Us, It is God’s truth!
So, we have Jesus to Save them and bring them back to life; we have the Father to help us Parent them; and then there is the Wonderful Comforter and Counselor, the Holy Spirit – and He pursues that child wherever he goes. They can get away from us, but they cannot get away from Him. Psalm 139:7-12, “Is there any place I can go to avoid your Spirit? Out of Your sight? If I climb to the sky, You are there! If I go underground, You are there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, you would find me in a minute—You are already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, He even sees me in the dark! At night I am immersed in the light!” It is a fact: darkness is not dark to You; night and day, darkness and light are all the same.” (MSG).
Isn’t it wonderful to know that your child has an internal tracking device, so they are never off the grid?! There is nowhere for your child to run and hide, where they are not seen and heard. No matter what they do, who they do it with, where they go, or how far they go, they cannot get away from the Holy Ghost! That may frustrate them, but it should undoubtedly fortify your faith! Your child has nowhere on planet earth to hide from God! Look at verse eight, “If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there.” (AMP). Your child cannot find a hiding place on earth, in heaven, hell, or even in death! So, keep praying, mom, keep fasting, dad, they have no natural way of escape!
I must also add this admonishment, though, open arms do more than open mouths to bring kids home. Sometimes we can talk too much and push them so hard we push them away from the Lord. Listen: The Father of the prodigal son did not chase the son. He just kept his arms open for him to come home. (Feel free to read the entire story in Luke 15:11-32), but I want to hone in on a small part, for now, that reads, “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe [for the guest of honor] and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet. And bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let us [invite everyone and] feast and celebrate; for this son of mine was [as good as] dead and is alive again; he was lost and has been found.’ So, they began to celebrate.” (vs. 20-24 AMP)
There is so much that I love about this story, but what is most exciting today are these three things:
1.. As bad as this son messed up, you would think it would have been the son running to his father's safety, but it was the other way around, the father saw him a far off, “…ran and embraced him and kissed him….” You cannot always wait for your child to come to you; sometimes, you must meet them halfway or go. Some may think it unfair since the kid messed up. But the father did not even care. He saw his son as far off and went to him first. Sometimes we can let our anger cloud our judgment and think, “as bad as you messed up, you have to earn your way back into my good graces; you’ll need me first; you better beg for my forgiveness; you better hope I let you back in….” But the father saw his son, went to him with compassion, and showed him love and affection. Make sure you do the same.
2.. The son immediately starts with, “…I am no longer worthy of being called your son….” But my favorite part is, “…But the father said to his servants….” The father never even addressed the sons’ sins. He immediately started the restoration process. Nobody knows better than you are just how badly you have messed up as a kid and an adult. So having others pour salt into your fresh, open wound does not help to heal. They know what they have done, so when they make their U-turn back, do not keep giving them fines for everything they have done wrong and every wrong turn they have ever made. Let them start over. Give them another chance. You know, like the many you receive from God daily… Please do not rub it in their faces. Do not keep rehashing old history. Do not keep reviewing their mistakes like an auditor during tax season. Take their lives from under the microscope. Be grateful that they have made it back and not in a coffin!
3.. Many of us make a mistake after our children return, telling everybody everything about what, when, where, why, and how behind our children’s mistakes. Please do not. Instead, do what the father did; before he told others (and all he told them was to come and celebrate with him for the return of his son that was good as dead but is now alive), he Re-Covered the son that he had Recovered! “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe [for the guest of honor] and put it on him; give him a ring for his hand, and sandals for his feet….” The son did not deserve it, but the father did it anyway. People may have known that he had left home, but when he returned, his father made sure that before anyone saw him, he re-covered and -- colonial him so that he did not look like where he had been or what he had done. Is not that just like our Father? By the time the folks would arrive to see him, he would look like he had never left in the first place. So, when they return, parents restore them, re-cover them, and celebrate! All that matters is that they have finally returned home.
The widow’s dead son and the prodigal son looked like hopeless cases never to be resolved. And yet, they both were. One son was over, and the other dead, and yet, both were recovered and restored. Even when it looked completely impossible.
Therefore, I encourage you not to give up on your children today. They are redeemable, just as you were. Encourage them and for those children who want to take their own life, pray with them and seek mental help for their safety.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Don’t you realize that this is not the way to live? Unjust people who do not care about God will not be joining in his kingdom. Those who use and abuse each other, use, and abuse sex, use and abuse the earth and everything in it do not qualify as citizens in God’s kingdom. A NUMBER OF YOU KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT FOR NOT SO LONG AGO THAT YOU WERE ON THAT LIST. Since then, you have been cleaned up and given a FRESH START by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and our God present in us, the Spirit.” (MSG)
Mom, Dad, Do not Forget You Messed Up Too! But the Bible clearly says, “…Since then, you’ve been cleaned up and given a FRESH START by Jesus, our Master, our Messiah, and by our God present in us, the Spirit.” So, give them a second chance God continually gives you. And I am crazy enough to believe that you will hear, “Mom… Dad… I am home.”
“Where I left gaps in my children’s upbringing, God fills them in.” (Lisa Pennington)
“The difference between mercy and grace? Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance. Grace gave him a feast.” (Max Lucado)
“Jesus told the story of the prodigal son to make a simple point: never mind what you’ve done, just come home.” (Glen Fitzjerrell)
“Satan Seeking Whom He May DEVOUR is No Match for a Savior Seeking Whom He May DELIVER.” (Tony Nolan)
Luke 19:10, “The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.” (CEV)
Matthew 18:12-14, “Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your father in heaven feels the same way. He does not want to lose even one of these simple believers.” (MSG)
Luke 15:4-7, “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you get home, call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I have found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there is more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.” (MSG)
Blessings
J.P. Olson
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