You Can Always Come Back


Imagine you rebelled against your father, thinking that your way was better than his, only to realize that life wasn’t better and having to make a long walk home. On the way you come up with a speech, hoping he will accept you back but thinking that’s not likely. You get home and realize your father has been looking out to the horizon each and every day you were gone, hoping you would return home. He comes running towards you and you get ready to give him your speech. He totally ignores it and greets you with open arms, showing mercy and grace towards you. Instead of punishing you, he throws you a party. What great love!

I’ve been that rebellious son. I saw the lights out in the distance and went out to explore and see what life had to offer, only to end up in a pigpen, knowing that there was only one option…return to the Father. On the journey back, the enemy filled my mind with lies. “You’ve gone too far.” “God won’t love you the same way again.” “Going back and living for God means missing out on the best life has to offer.”

What I didn’t realize was that God was always looking out to the horizon, hoping I would return to Him one day. When I returned, instead of shaming or retaliating against me for my sin, He showed me mercy. When I thought I wasn’t good enough, He showed me grace. His love for me is more than I could ever comprehend.

The Long Walk Home is a book a that dives deep into one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, the Prodigal Son. Even though this parable of Jesus is 21 verses, there are many deep truths that Jesus teaches. This is a book that I highly recommend everyone of all ages read. We all have had our moments where we decide to leave God and explore if life has something better to offer. We give up on God. We let go God, but God never lets go of us.

Friends, it doesn’t matter how far you’ve gone, what your past has been, what you’ve done. You can return to the Father. He’s not waiting to punish you. He’s waiting to welcome you with open arms. That’s why He sent His Son Jesus. He loves you so much that the thought of you being separated from Him grieves Him. He wants to have a relationship with you. Have you returned home to the Father?

*I received a free copy from B&H/LifeWay Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Teaching The Word, Planting the Seeds: CFBC VBS 2017

Image
Last week I talked about my VBS experience at Gardendale First Baptist Church and talked a little about why I am so passionate about VBS. (So if you haven’t, go check out last weeks post.) Continuing with the VBS posts, this week I want to focus on the second VBS that I got to serve in last month at Cleveland First Baptist Church. Next week I will be talking about lessons learned during VBS 2017. The theme at Cleveland First Baptist was Summer Games 2017: Training with Paul to Become Champions or Christ. Students learned about Paul and his conversion and missionary journeys. Students also learned how important it is to follow God and that He has a plan for us. We as believers are to take the Word across the street and around the world. This was a total unexpected, but pleasant surprise! Within 2 hours of committing to Gardendale’s VBS, I was asked by Pastor Rick if I would like to be the lead teacher for 1 st /2 nd graders at Cleveland’s VBS. I don’t know why, I guess it wa
Read more

Understanding And Bearing

Image
UAB: The first three letters of this week’s post but also the first 3 letters of my new school, the University of Alabama-Birmingham. I’m so excited to start this new journey on August 28. This has been a transforming summer for me. I’ve rediscovered and strengthened my relationship with God. This point last year, I was a disaster! Anxiety had taken over every part of me. Fear had come in. Thoughts like “what if I don’t do well in school?”, “What about the next phase of my life?”, and many other things. I was so obsessed with making perfect grades, planning MY life for the next six to ten years. These thoughts swirled in my head for months, even into early 2017. I was trying to force things to go MY way. I got to the point that I just wanted to be isolated. I wasn’t enjoying life. In March, I started attending a college group called SUB25, part of Gardendale First Baptist Church. I felt God saying, “I am taking you here. Trust me!” I didn’t know anyone from GFBC and was very nerv
Read more

I Turned 21, but I'm Really 10

This past weekend I celebrated my 21st birthday! Nothing big, just time spent with my family. The one thing I prayed/wished for, God granted. I did a birthday fundraiser to help raise funds for my mission trip in 2018. All 21 spots were taken, and I am very thankful for the people who decided to donate. The day I came into this world was December 2, 1996. Interesting fact…I was born a UAB. Who would’ve thought that 21 years later, I would be attending UAB. I was born with a sinful nature. We all were. No matter what good I do in this world, if I didn’t have Jesus as my Savior, it wouldn’t help me get into heaven. I realized this at a young age. As many of you know, Vacation Bible School has always had a special place in my heart. Since 2001, I have attended VBS at Cleveland First Baptist. The people there mean a lot to me. They helped me build my foundations of Biblical knowledge. Jesus said that everyone needs to be born again. I encourage that you read this truth in John 3: 1-21
Read more