Rembrandt’s painting of the Prodigal Son is, in my opinion, one of the most touching paintings in history. It depicts a father embracing his son after life has torn him to pieces – ate him up and spit him out.

If you don’t know the story – The son had received an inheritance his father promised him. After receiving it leaves home the first chance he gets. He’s excited and free and indulges in all kinds of pleasures. As time went on, He ended up squandering all his wealth, lost everyone around him, and eventually hit rock bottom. He became desperate, hopeless, depressed, and realized the mistake he made, leaving home.  After he goes through this trail, he comes to himself and decides to return home. He’s expecting disappointed looks from his father, he’s expecting angry outrage, and having to work as a slave in his own father’s house. But, When his father sees him, he doesn’t care about the things he had lost, he doesn’t care what he had done while he was gone – not even how he looked – only that he had finally returned home. God is this way.  No matter where you think you are, no matter what you have done in the past, or where you’ve gone, or how you THINK you look. God is standing there waiting, with a smile on his face, for you to come home and embrace you – with no questions asked. Because HIS grace is sufficient.