This fun and heartfelt song by David Dunn incorporates some crucial Christian concerns along with two familiar Christian songs, “This Little Light of Mine” and “Jesus Loves Me.” It also has elements from the “Parable of the Two Brothers,” or more familiarly recognized as, “The Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32). And no matter where you’ve been, or how long it’s been, Dunn testifies your life is not done and it’s time to come back to Jesus.
Jesus vs. The Joneses
Is it easier to keep up with the Joneses than follow Jesus? Or maybe that it’s more practical and important to keep up with the Joneses than Jesus? Are you jaded, or jealous about the successes of others who are accomplishing their dreams? What did you dream about doing, becoming when you were a kid? What do you dream about doing and becoming now that you’re an adult? Does being an adult mean that you have to have different dreams, or that it’s too late for dreams? Does growing up mean you’re more realistic now and don’t have time for dreams or “religion” and no longer believe that childlike faith, or what the world calls “foolish fantasies,” is practical and applicable to your “grown-up” problems?
Even the most faithful dreamers and doers face obstacles and oppositions. Perhaps you feel like you and your dreams are facing mountains today that no amount of faith could ever move? Don’t worry about who is climbing faster, or higher than you. Don’t compare and despair your life to your family, friends, neighbors, or the world. Keep climbing with Jesus.
Pigsties vs. Palaces
Dreams and desires are good things, but when they distance us from Deity, or make us too busy to spend true time with Him, then they will eventually lead us down paths that end up in more pigsties than palaces. I’m sure the prodigal son never dreamed that he would be working in the pigsties, or get to the point of starvation where pig food looked like a feast. Thankfully, once he realized his dirty demise, he wanted to go back to his father—though, no longer as his beloved son, but his lowly servant.
He wasted his inheritance and now was certain he had also lost his right to even be called a son. Nevertheless, he had hopes of at least feeding the pigs for his father. In his humiliation he found humility. In his showdown with his shame his hope won!
Pigs vs. Punishment?
Perhaps many people think the Lord’s response to their rebellion is, “You’re the idiot that left me in the first place and now you think you can just come home and all is well?” If so, then it’s understandable why they don’t want to, or even think it’s possible to come back home. They’d rather take their chances with the pigs than the potential punishment. If they would only read the rest of the story! They would read about where and how the prodigal and his papa were reunited! It’s not only possible to come home, but the Lord wants each of us to!
I love the verse in (Malachi 3:7) because the Lord basically says, “Come back to me and I’ll come back to you.” Yes, it’s about tithing and “robbing God”, but it can also apply to each of us because the longer we run and hide, we are not only robbing ourselves of receiving God’s love and blessings, but we are robbing Him of our love and companionship, which He still wants!
Time to Stop Running and Hiding
Concerning the “punishment” that makes everyone who’s ever made a mistake hesitate, hurt, run and hide, I say this: Jesus loves you! He wants you to stop running, hiding and come back. Not so he can punish you, but so He can promote you. He wants to take you physically, emotionally and spiritually out of and away from the pigsty to His palace. He wants to rescue and redeem you from the mud to the mansion (John 14:2-3). Yes, chastisement may be necessary (Hebrews 12:4-12) but it’s not to shame you or make you feel like an idiot. It’s to make you stronger in weakness and cause your light to be brighter in a world getting darker. He wants you to know that He really can heal you if you give Him your sins (Job 22:23), trade Him your ashes for beauty (Isaiah 61:3) and trust Him that He will still give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). Even though you may not feel it in the moment, when you’re covered in mud, Jesus wants to also remind you that He loves YOU (John 3:16-17)!
It’s not too soon and certainly not too late to come back!
Do you wanna to go back into the arms of Jesus? What’s holding you back? What’s blocking your little light from shining? Is a pigsty perspective preventing you from realizing Jesus still loves you? He’s not just waiting for your return, but like the grateful father of the prodigal, He is running towards you with arms and heart wide open.