Come On Home....

"...your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!"

from Luke 15:32 (NLT)

The parable of the prodigal son tells us just how far God will allow us to roam, but it also gives some wonderful insight on how patient and loving God is when we choose to return.

Psalm 139:16 (NLT) tells us: "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

So based on the two scriptures above, we can see that:

1. The father KNEW the son would be asking for his inheritance
   
2. The father KNEW the son would waste it all in riotous living
   
3. The father KNEW the son would go hungry as a result of his own selfish actions
   

but best of all...

The father KNEW the son would eventually "come to himself", and return, asking for forgiveness.

Because God is all-knowing, he knows EXACTLY what we've been doing, and yet loves us enough to keep watching the road, awaiting our return. There's only one thing delaying this joyful reunion: Our own pride.

Proverbs 21:4 tells us that a proud heart is sin, and we know that sin separates us from God. Until you lay aside your own prideful thoughts and your own self-seeking paths, God will continue to stand and watch the road for you, expectantly waiting for you to turn from your own foolishness and re-join the family. He knows where you are; you know it too. But you haven't strayed too far; you're not entirely lost. The Bible assures us He's waiting for you to return. No matter how far you've gone, the return path to God is ALWAYS available.

Come on home. Visit God in a Bible-believing Christian church near you. And if you don't seem to be finding God at the church you visit, I invite you to give New Community a try.

He's waiting for you. God Bless.

© 2009 Scotty Ward