A Revelation of Identity

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:11-32 (New International Version, NIV)

There are three main characters in this story: the father, the older brother, and the younger brother, usually referred to as the prodigal son.

The Father represents God, our heavenly Father. He has given us an inheritance. And yet, a lot of us don’t know about or enjoy our inheritance, like the older brother. The older brother had a slave mentality, so he didn’t enjoy his inheritance as a son. All along, it was his, as his father explained to him. The younger son took his inheritance and misused it, living a sinful lifestyle. He repented of the lifestyle he had lived, but he felt he no longer belonged in the family because of how he had behaved. However, the father reassured him that he was still his son.

We must know that God is our heavenly Father and we’re his sons and daughters. As such, we have rights and an inheritance to enjoy now in this life. Because we’ve been made righteous, we can enjoy all that the Father has. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), meaning we’re equal heirs with Jesus. All that belongs to God is freely shared with us.

There is great significance in what the father gave to his younger son upon his return. It represents what the Father has given to us.

Robe

This is a type of the robe of righteousness that we receive as children of God. All who come to the Lord are made right with Him; righteous in His eyes.

Ring

A ring in ancient times represented authority and rulership. A king would seal royal decrees using his ring. As believers, we have authority and we can decree a thing and it is so. When we speak the Word of God and use the name of Jesus, we are making kingly decrees, and the forces of darkness must obey.

Sandals

Sandals are used for walking, and it symbolizes that once we are children of God, we can walk with Him. We have an ongoing relationship where we can walk and fellowship with the Lord.

Food

As sons and daughters of God, we are guaranteed of provision. Food in this story represents provision and spiritual food. As long as we are in relationship, God will meet our needs and feed our spirits with His Word. We lack for nothing as children of God.

Ring & Sandals

If we consider the ring and sandals together, they speak of dignity and honor being restored. When we come to the Lord, we are restored back to fellowship with the Father and our identity as sons of God is demonstrated.

Let’s allow God to reveal who we are- our true identity. We are children of God. We are not slaves, but free to walk with God and fellowship with Him. All He has is ours. Let’s feast and celebrate, making music and dancing in ongoing relationship with the Father. Our identity is clear- we are worthy sons who worship our heavenly Father.