Wholeness Ministries
www.wholeness.org
www.wholeness.org
When Are You Coming Home?
We are familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. At some point the son realized that he had sinned and that returning to his father was necessary for staying alive. It says in the story that when the son thought about going back to the father his game plan was to throw himself at his father's feet, beg for his forgiveness and ask to be accepted back as a servant. He did not know how his father would respond but figured that at the least his father would expect an explanation as to why he was returning and that there would be conditions he would have to meet to be accepted back. The son knew he had brought embarrassment and shame on his father and the family, and as a result of his actions he most likely never would be restored to a position of sonship. That was okay with him as long as he could just be in the household and no longer separated from his father. He knew it was safe there and his needs would be met. One thing that is so encouraging about this story is the total, unconditional love demonstrated by the father. He didn't require anything from the son. There were no questions like, "Why are you coming back?," No demands, no explanations needed, just total, unconditional acceptance.
I'm sure the father's response stunned this young man. I'm just as sure that many of us in some ways are like this prodigal. We may have strayed away and are not sure God will accept us back to the position we had before we left. Even if He does we think He will want to know why we are returning. In his book, "The Road To Daybreak," Henri Nouwen wrote, " God does not require a pure heart before embracing us. Even if we return only because following our desires has failed to bring happiness, God will take us back. Even if we return because being a Christian brings us more peace than being a pagan, God will receive us. Even if we return because our sins did not offer as much satisfaction as we had hoped, God will take us back. Even if we return because we could not make it on our own, God will receive us. God's love does not require any explanations about why we are returning. God is glad to see us home and wants to give us all we desire, just for being home."
What an incredible statement! God doesn't care why we are back. He's just excited to have us back. Our heart doesn't have to be pure, our reasons for coming back don't even have to be clearly defined. Maybe you have not totally left but a part of you is in the "far country" and you have discovered it has not brought you the pleasure you thought it would. If you feel somewhat like the prodigal and know you need to return but hesitate to return out of fear, rest assured He's waiting for you to come home.
He is not standing there, with a raised eyebrow and a skeptical look on his face, waiting to ask you, "what do you want and why are you here?" Your Father God is so completely in love with you He does not want to know nor does He care why you came back because He is happy to have you back. Do not let the fear of having to explain yourself keep you from coming back to the Father. Do not feel as if you are going to have to justify yourself. He is not interested in the why but the when. "When are you coming home?"
Wholeness ministries offers a weekly School of Healing Prayer, individual prayer by appointment, numerous resources on both audio and videotape as well as our book "Learning To do What Jesus Did."
For more information please contact:
Rev. Mike Evans
4301 Stine Rd. Suite H
Bakersfield CA
USA 93313
661-833-2920
Fax 661-833-2934
mevans@wholeness.org
www.wholeness.org
