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The Road that Leads to Home

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”  Luke 15:32 NIV

My wife and I used to ride in separate vehicles on the way to church because I was leading the hymns at nursing home during the Sunday school hour. Usually one son went with her while the other tagged along with me. I’m still not sure what happened on that ill fated Sunday but somehow we forgot one boy at church. Chris realized something odd had happened but he didn’t panic. First he searched up and down the gradually emptying church then after he checked everywhere that he could think of he sat down on the steps and tried to think of what to do. As one of the deacons (Who thankfully was our close friend) went to lock the doors he saw Chris.

“So where’s your mom and dad?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” Chris answered shaking his head.

“If you want to ride in my truck I’ll take you home.” John offered.

Meanwhile back at home we had just realized what had happened and in embarrassment I ran out the door ready to speed back to church. Just then John’s old red truck pulled in our driveway. At that moment everyone had a smile on their faces except for me.

classic red vehicle scale model

Photo by Eneida Nieves on Pexels.com

“Forget something?” John asked with a chuckle as he opened the door and Chris hopped out. My wife and I both ran to embrace our briefly lost son. Imagine how the heart of God bursts when we come home to Him. He never forgets us even when we have forgotten Him. Instead He sent Jesus to pick us up and put us on the road that leads us safely home!

The Other Side of the River

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Maybe you were a little like me growing up and you just wanted to fit in (But you couldn’t). In my case it was usually because I was the new kid – over and over again! Being accepted like one of the others was a premium that somehow I was never quite able to pay.  When I found Jesus at the age of nineteen; finally there was someone who was willing to be called my friend. But old ways of thinking can have a way of hanging around and translated into running after acceptance as if I still needed to belong somewhere here on this planet. I was still looking for home.

But Jesus reminds me that fitting in here on earth is not His goal for my life. In fact what we all need more than anything else is the peace that flows from knowing that where God has put us for now is the perfect place to be. He does give us a spot to catch our breath at times like Jesus did at the Samaritan well. But the destination that Jesus has in mind is our real home; and it sits there on the other side of the river.

KIMG1845

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:2-3

 

 

Preparing a Home

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The only thing I knew about my surgeon was His name. I never had so much as sat with him for coffee or met his family. But on date I was given for surgery I obediently came and allowed an anesthesiologist to put me under. When I awoke the procedure was over.

Though I had my fears and questions I decided that getting my vision back was worth the risk. How much more can we trust in Jesus who gave His life for us. He risked His own life to give us the message of God’s gift of eternal life. He healed the sick became the friend of sinners and washed the feet of even His betrayer. Then knowing we would fear what lay beyond our earthly horizon He gave us His promise to prepare a place of safety and love. The eternal world He tells us about is not just a place of mansions and golden streets. It is the address of the house He lives in. He has promised and He has prepared and He is coming to bring us home!