I realize that all who trust Christ in His precious shed blood have become a perfect, cleansed, holy child of God. But I cannot get away from the thought of "in time past" (Eph. 2:2). I believe it is healthy to remember the pit from whence the gracious Lord dug us. Do you not suppose that this prodigal went back in his thoughts to the hog-pen days? Certainly! This will tend to put down any good thoughts that we might have about self, and certainly it will cause praise to the God of all grace. It might even cause some holier-than-thou wretches to remember that they are nothing as well as the rest of the plain old sinners.
This one who just recently fed with the hogs must have been a wretched sight. When the thought came to him to go home to his father, he no doubt looked at his despicable condition and smelled the stench of himself. What to do? He surely couldn't buy new clothes and didn't have enough for a bar of soap. This is a good state for a sinner, for all he can do is go to God as a beggar.
He came with no rights. He did not say, "I have sinned, but I am still your child." NO! I am not worthy to be called thy son. Do you remember that? It's called "submitting to the sentence." God would be right to withhold mercy and put you in hell right then. Paul realized where the Lord found him. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious (1 Timothy 1:13). Then he added, but I obtained mercy. Thank our Lord He is merciful, for this mercy is our only hope.
Do you remember "in time past"? It helps me very greatly to praise Him for looking on me with pity and grace. We don't dwell on that misery, but sometimes it is necessary to bring us down off our high horse, and then we go back to the foot of that cross where we "arose and came to our Father." The cleansing blood of the Redeemer hath rescued us, and we have the kiss of sonship from the blessed Savior who is so gracious to such as we.
I do remember the husks the swine did eat.