The Bible calls it a 'far country' so it clearly involved some considerable distance to travel. But the young man was keen to go, having apparently had enough of home and needing to see and experience the world beyond his own borders. I guess there's really no need to go through the whole story again but certainly after along time, during which he seems to have carelessly lost all his money, he came to realise that home wasn't such a bad place after all and despite a brother's protests, his father welcomed him back with open arms. Now I know it's a parable to show how God is always waiting for us and will never turn us away when we come to Him but the story in itself has much more to say as well about human relationships. Most of the account centres on the young guy partying, spending and eventually being bankrupt and deals with his remorse and return. But what about the father, left behind? What about the day his son came to him and said he wanted to leave? I wonder how often his dad tried to convince him not to go? I wonder how many sleepless nights he spent, hoping that things would be different? And I wonder how he spent his days after the son left because there is clear evidence that he was watching for his return. And I wonder how many tears he shed?And what of Jacob? This time a real account of his favourite son's life at home and in the far country of Egypt, his brothers' deception and the ultimate reunion. But Jacob had to live through it all, the years when he thought his son was dead, the anguish when Benjamin had to go to Egypt and the tears of joy when Joseph once more stood before him. And I think of Hannah, almost without hope of having children, then Samuel comes along and because her prayers are answered, she gives her only son back to God. But the human heartache, the days and nights of inner turmoil over her promise and then the day comes and he is gone. And Abraham, old before his son is born, yet taken to the very limit of his endurance and faith as God commands that his son be sacrificed. Can you imagine the state of his mind, the desire to run away, the feeling of hopelessness, the torture on each step of his voyage to that place? Along the way there was no light at the end of the tunnel, no escape clause, no other way yet Abraham, like Hannah, like Jacob, like the Prodigal son's father, kept believing.
We stood watching youngest son go to the far country this morning. The fact that he wasn't going there to party or just have a good time or even to see the world, didn't really matter that much. But we did know that when we handed our children over to God, he would take us at our word, just like Hannah found out and we might have to endure the pain of separation for a season. I'm reminded of that famous line form Romeo and Juliet, 'parting is such sweet sorrow' and I guess today I probably understood it for the first time in all its magnitude, for while it was such a sad occasion for us all, the sweetness is found in the knowledge that he is safe in God's hands and every day brings that reunion closer.
But I know there is someone who completely understands our pain. For when Jesus began His voyage in a stable, it would eventually end on a hillside and His Father knew every day was a step closer to that awful scene. Yet for our sake and our eternal future, He endured the pain and sorrow that any father would experience, so that we might be forgiven. Maybe that puts John 3 v 16 properly into perspective when we understand what is cost God to sacrifice His Son. 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' So when we have to let go of our children, God understands, when we feel helpless in their helplessness, God understands, when we find the pain so hard to bear, God understands. Why? Because He let go for us. And because He loves us unconditionally.
But he Psalmist encourages me to be strong when he writes, 'The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.' It's not just the physical voyage of going to the far country that is difficult to bear. For it's the voyage of faith that brings us to a place where we can find rest in Him and comfort for tomorrow. Safe travelling.
