Come Home

               I have a very dear friend that I have know for over 30 years. We met when I was 13 years old and became best friends overnight. She knows more about me than anyone else on this earth. We don’t see each other or talk very often anymore, she lives in Illinois, and I live in North Carolina. Life, children, marriages and miles have separated us over the years. However, I know that I can call her right now and we will pick right back up where we left off. It would be like we were never apart.

         

As I was praying this morning, and thinking about my friend, Psalm 139 came into my thoughts. David writes in verse 7, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence?” Reading this made me think of how easy it is to let life separate us from the One who knows us more intimately than any other person on the face of this earth- even our best friends. David’s words reminded me that no matter what I do, what I say or how far I may wander, my God is still with me- waiting for me to call Him and come home.

“O Lord, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up, You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is spoken on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all together.”
 Psalm 139: 1-4 ESV

          Paul encourages us in Romans, that there is nothing that can separate us from the love that we have been given in Jesus Christ. No depth, height, distance or power on this earth can separate us from God- not even our sins.

“For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 ESV

          David, even in his sins; knew in the depths of his soul that no matter how far he had fallen, no matter how badly he sinned, God his Father was waiting patiently for him to turn back to Him. God was not shaken by David’s sins. Nor was God surprised that David had sinned- because God knew he was going to wander even before David did. Our God is Omnipotent. He is All Knowing. There is nothing hidden in His sight. We are all naked and open before Him to whom we will give an account. (Hebrews 4:13)

          I have wandered. I have taken paths I knew I shouldn’t, but I chose to take them anyway. I have fought God and tried to flee from His presence. I have strayed and gone down paths of sin. Yet today, God in heaven waits patiently for me to turn back to Him and come home. He waits patiently for us all to turn back and come home. He is not shaken by my sins, nor is He shaken by yours. He is not surprised any of us have wandered. David who was called by God, “a man after His own heart” wandered. Even the most faithful man has found himself on a path that led him away from God. The One friend who loves us, and knows us more intimately than anyone else ever can- is asking us today to call on Him and come home.

          My friend, if you are reading this today and have found yourself on a path that is leading you away from God, turn back. Our God and Father is not condemning you for your sins. Your sins, your wanderings, your desire to hide and try and flee from the One who knows all, sees all and loves all has sent His Son to bring you home.

          Your thoughts have not separated you from Him. They can’t. Your sins have not separated you from Him. They can’t. Everything has been washed clean and made knew by the blood of Jesus Christ. You can call on Him today and He will hear you. You can turn around from this path you are on and you will find mercy, forgiveness and grace. He will cover you with His feathers and restore you again. You are not unworthy. You are cherished, you are loved, You are His and He is waiting for you to come home.

          No matter where we go, what we do, or how hard we fall, our heavenly Father is right there beside us; ready to help us up, dust us off and pick up right where we left off. Turn back to Him today. If you turn to Him, He will restore you and all that was lost during your wanderings. He is waiting for you. Call to Him, pray to Him. He will hear you and He will answer you with arms of love, mercy and grace to help you find your way back home. Amen.