Man, you stink.

So the father ran to him and hugged and kissed him. (Luke 15:20 NCV)

Shoo, what’s that smell? Look at you, you’re a mess! Where have you been? What did you do with all the money I gave you? I knew this was going to happen, why didn’t you listen to me? Don’t touch me; I don’t want that pig poop on me. I will have one of my servants take you to the barn and hose you off. They will give you some work clothes and feed you. I will come by and check on you when you are all cleaned up. I can’t believe you.

This is what one would expect a dad to say to the son whom he gave half of his inheritance only to have him come back knocking on the door smelling like alcohol, eyes red from drug use, hair matted, and wearing clothes stained with week old vomit. He does not deserve any other reception we would say. He brought all this upon himself, what did he expect? He is lucky the father even received him. This is exactly what God has done for us though. We think sometimes we are the son who stayed home and did the right thing. That God owes us an inheritance because we are the good one in the family and not the black sheep. When Adam ate the fruit the pigs were turned loose. Pigs with names like addiction, sexual immorality, rage and pride. The whole earth has become their pen. They have run of the place and there are millions that eat with them, wallow in the mud with them, and die in their pen every day. God has offered refuge from the pen however. He has a nice home with a room in it just for us. He stands on the porch watching for us to come up the road. When we do, He does not greet us with insults or condemnation, pinching his nose and waving his hand. No, He reaches out to us, wraps His spiritual arms around us, hugs us tight and kisses us on our neck. God has been in the pig pen; He has smelled the smells and had mud on Him. He knows how miserable life is in the pen. That is why He went to the Cross and shed His blood; that it would wash off the mud, the poop, the drugs, the alcohol, the adultery, the homosexuality, the pornography, the prostitution, the greed, the lies, the anger, the rage, the abuse, and the shame. Look around you; see any pigs? Are you in the pen with them? Climb out and run to Jesus. See someone else in it? Give them your hand, help them out, and lead them to Christ. God accepts us as we are but loves us to much to leave us that way.