Coming Home

Luke 15:16-20  He would have gladly eaten the [carob] pods that the pigs were eating [but they could not satisfy his hunger], and no one was giving anything to him.17 But when he [finally] came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough food, while I am dying here of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] treat me like one of your hired men.”’ 20 So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

I love this story as it mirrors mine in a variety of ways. All of us regardless how of long we have been believers we were at one time like the prodigal son lets examine this story. First the young man had to come to the place he was ready to come home. We can have family, friends, or even our minister tell us we need to come to Jesus, but until we get to the place we see our own need we won't go home. Notice to what the young man says.
1. I will get up- He was getting out of his circumstance, he was finished living the way he was living. He had to see how far he had fallen from where he was. Once he saw it, he got up.
2. I will go to my father- He decided to go home. It isn't enough to get tired of the situation, or circumstance, he has to act on it. He said I'm going home, and I'll at least be a servant. He spent time rehearsing his apology, ready for the punishment of the Father. However, what he got was not what he expected.
While he was a way off, his father came running, hugging and kissing him as tears streamed down his face. He was so busy loving his son, he didn't hear the request to be a servant, he only heard "daddy I'm home!" He threw a party rejoicing that his son was home, although this ran afoul of the older brother (religious crowd).
Today if you have just come home, welcome back glad you are here. If you have been here a while, so glad you are still here, but remember at the end of the day we are all part of the family of God. We should all rejoice when someone comes home, and rejoice daily that we are ALL on our way to a Heaven that God has prepared for each and everyone of us, regardless as to when we arrived.

Grace and peace multiplied to you!!
Eric