Jesus Christ told this story to show that God is more loving and forgiving than any human being can be. He shows that God (the Father) is delighted to accept anyone who comes to him by believing in Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "A man had two sons. The younger of them said to him, 'Dad, give me my portion of the family wealth.' The father gave the sons their property, and the younger son gathered all he had and left for a distant place where he spent all his money with wild living.
When he had spent everything, there was a big drought in that area and he had nothing and couldn't get any work. Eventually he attached himself to a local farmer who sent him to his field to look after pigs. He was so hungry he longed to eat what the pigs were eating but it wasn't offered to him.
Then he came to his senses and said to himself, 'My father's workers eat plenty of food and here I am about to die of hunger. I will leave here and go to my father. I will say to him, "Dad, I have rejected and hurt God and you. I don't deserve to be called your son. Please take me on as one of your workers.'" So he left and went to his father.
While he was still a good distance away, his father saw him and was so overcome with emotion, he lost all his dignity and ran to his son. He hugged him and kissed him and the son said, 'Dad, I have rejected and hurt God and you. I don't deserve to be called your son.'
But his father said to one of his workers. "Go quickly and bring some good clothes for him to wear. Bring a ring for his finger and some comfortable shoes for his feet. Then prepare a BBQ so we can have a party, because my son was dead but here he is alive. He was lost but not he has been found." They all came and joined the party.
This story is intended to show God's willingness to receive people who come to him and really want the forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ. It doesn't end there. Jesus went on to tell us that the older brother was annoyed by his father's kindness and complained about it. The father has the last word when he repeats his thoughts, "I had to celebrate and rejoice because your brother was dead but he is now alive. He was lost but he has been found."
Whatever other people might think, if you believe in Jesus Christ, God will be excited about having you with him. And that is what really matters.
