Day 16
Coming Home Again
Memory stands still, but time moves on. I remember going to my high school reunion. Thoughts of seeing friends from years past excited me. A strange thing had happened since graduation, my friends did not look the same! Their features from high school were fixed in my memory but time had changed those physical characteristics. Time had not only changed my friends but also our high school building was unoccupied, and the football stadium was no longer in use. Perhaps it is true that in some cases you can never go home again.
However, we can go home again with God. Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son who went into a distant country with his share of the inheritance but without the restraints of his father’s presence is our story about running away from God. God blesses us with so many wonderful gifts. God has given us life, family, friends, a beautiful creation, food, forgiveness, and joy. Yet we often move away from God and squander His gifts. Like the prodigal, we remember how great life was when we were living in God’s presence. Or sin moved us away from “home”. But can we return? Will God welcome us back?
Luke 15:11-24 (CSB) [Jesus said], “A man had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ 20So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
The father in this parable is God. The rebellious child is us. God is watching for us to return home. With God, we can go home again! God is watching, waiting, longing for you. Come back home!
Memory stands still, but time moves on. I remember going to my high school reunion. Thoughts of seeing friends from years past excited me. A strange thing had happened since graduation, my friends did not look the same! Their features from high school were fixed in my memory but time had changed those physical characteristics. Time had not only changed my friends but also our high school building was unoccupied, and the football stadium was no longer in use. Perhaps it is true that in some cases you can never go home again.
However, we can go home again with God. Jesus’ parable about the prodigal son who went into a distant country with his share of the inheritance but without the restraints of his father’s presence is our story about running away from God. God blesses us with so many wonderful gifts. God has given us life, family, friends, a beautiful creation, food, forgiveness, and joy. Yet we often move away from God and squander His gifts. Like the prodigal, we remember how great life was when we were living in God’s presence. Or sin moved us away from “home”. But can we return? Will God welcome us back?
Luke 15:11-24 (CSB) [Jesus said], “A man had two sons. 12The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. 13Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ 20So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
The father in this parable is God. The rebellious child is us. God is watching for us to return home. With God, we can go home again! God is watching, waiting, longing for you. Come back home!
Posted in 40 Days - 2022