TEXT: LUKE 15:21-24
'And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight.../But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:/And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:/For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.'
Every man is dead or lost to God, until he finds forgiveness with Him; as it were, forgiveness discovers a man to God, and opens a sluice of all the blessings in heavenly places to him. To expects heaven's smile before forgiveness, is like putting the cart before the horse. Any blessing that comes to a man before the forgiveness of his sins, is one given by God in anger or simply designed to convey him into the arm of God, as Joseph sends wagons full of the good things of Egypt to bring his father down to him. Another point to be seriously minded is, until forgiven, a man remains a cause of 'sorrow' to all of heaven; he teams up with Satan against God, who labours not to secure the pardon of the Prince of heaven. No preacher seeks God's glory, that makes not reconciliation with God the top or chief design of his work. Pardon for sins, plunges a man into the ocean of never-ending felicity, both here and hereafter. Who is as light, free, and without care as the forgiven? Who droops and feeds on the bread of melancholy as one who is yet to find forgiveness with God. If there be any man who leaves our meetings with the burden of his sins, it is a sign that our sermons achieved nothing that day. God was in Christ doing only one thing, reconciling the world to Himself: thus must we trust Him to do in and by our sermons. Whether God is a-pleading or a-threatening in and by our sermons, the chief focus thereby, is to end every war betwixt Him and man! We must agree that, before pardon comes, a man is without authority: sin strips a man of his authority. Reconciliation with God, puts a ring of authority and dominion on the finger; until then, a man remains mute, powerless and a play thing of creatures and demons. Seek forgiveness for thyself and others in every holy duty undertaken! What a fleet of comforts an unpardoned man forfeits! He stalls heavenly music and song from playing constantly in his soul; he goes on rags and without shoes; he is far from the father's warm embrace! True and real living starts with forgiveness from God; none is considered as alive, though existing, that has not asked and received pardon from the Lord of the whole earth. A step towards God, is considered by Him as a motion or application for pardon: and God who knows all hearts, grants it before the mouth utters its plea: this we find in the parable of the prodigal son. We dare to say under scriptural illustrations, that God loves to pardon sin: no kind of sin can stifle the forgiving heart of God. The Lord is not a man that selects what offences to pardon and those to punish. God denies His justness and faithfulness, if He turns a repentant sinner away from His mercy seat. His forgiveness comes not by our tears and works, but by that timely and timeless sacrifice of Christ. He ceases to be faithful and just to Christ,--which can never happen,--if He refuses an application for pardon made in Christ's name. Now, I turn to all who are pardoned, blessed are you, who is as favoured as you? You who have God's pardon, a shepherd is the Lord to you now; in pasture green, He shall make you lie; by water still He shall lead you: for with Him, you are now reconciled! He who has Christ's pardon, has entered amity with his conscience: conscience and him have joined locked lips to lips. None is fit to sleep peaceably, save he who has a warrant of pardon under his pillow: it is a great surprise to see a man indebted to God making merriments and snoring all night long! It notes and signifies a brut kind of heart to breathe in God-giving breath in a state of enmity with Him. To all who have God's pardon, look up, the sky now smiles upon you; look around, creatures are set to serve your turns; look with your eye of faith, angels are round about you! Your name is written down in glory, if the warrant of pardon is in your cabinet. Those who are are forgiven, look forward to a kingdom that can never be moved! Amen.