Coming Home

I was just sitting yesterday in my recliner wondering what I was going to blog about today for the ChristianWriters.com blog chain. I sat down to begin writing, and something else came out instead. And unfortunately today my mind is just not focused, so I'm going to have to rely on the Lord to lead me through.

Some say you can always go home, but that's not always true.

A man named John Ed Pearce is quoted to have said, "Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to."

Poet Margaret Elizabeth Sangster said, "There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again."

I think about the prodigal son who left his home where he was loved, accepted, and provided for. He wasn't happy with life at home. Perhaps he had to help his father, perhaps the meals weren't fancy enough, and maybe his parents were "stuffy". No matter what his reasons, the son left. He asked for his inheritance and took off (Luke 15:11-32).

You know what happened to him: he squandered all of his money. "Prodigal" means wasteful, so we know that he used his money in a way that was not wise. When all was said and done, he had nothing left. He knew that even his father's servants ate better than he. Recognizing his pitiful condition, he decided to set off for home.

I can only imagine his embarrassment though, can't you? Admitting defeat isn't something that most men are able to do easily. I'm not a man, but I can't imagine going home in the shape that that son did. No doubt he was ashamed and scared. I can imagine he might have wondered if his father would slam the door in his face. Or would he have to earn back his position in the family? I'd say that the trip home was not an easy one.

When he came in view of home, no doubt his pulse probably raced. Then something wonderful happened: his father spotted him in the distance. Did the father sigh and shake his head in disdain or murmur about his foolish son? No. The father RAN to his son, EMBRACED him, and KISSED him.

When the son told him that he was unworthy to be called his son, the father simply made his son welcome right back again, unconditionally. The son was given the best clothes, had a ring put on his finger and a celebration was on.

That's exactly what happens when God welcomes us into His Home after we've strayed away. None of us is perfect, and let's face it: in this world, temptation is all around. Television, newspapers, and the internet is full of stories of sin--sins committed by unbelievers and believers. Yep, believers are sinners, too. Just like sheep, if we're not listening to our Shepherd's voice, we can go astray.

The good news is, when we go off the path that God wants us to take, we can ALWAYS go Home again!! Just like the prodigal son's father, our Father God waits for us, ready to run to us, embrace us, and host a celebration.

Don't let fear or embarrassment keep you from going Home. God will accept you just as you are--filthy rags, penniless, or shameful. He doesn't care where you've been; He just wants you.