Three highways become one main street through downtown, then veer off in different directions again across town. As a college student new to the area, my directional skills were a little sketchy. From the front of campus, I turned left and drove straight until I reached the interstate toward home. From the back entrance, a right turn took me through the country to my grandparents.
On one trip, after driving for several miles where nothing looked at all familiar, I turned around and headed in the opposite direction. Back on campus, I stopped by my dorm to call collect from the pay phone to let my grandmother know I’d be later than expected before restarting my journey. After telling my grandfather about losing my way, he laughed aloud. “That’s nothing,” he said. Once he’d come home from military service to find his mother had moved without telling him.
Jesus told a story about a son who left home with all he owned and quickly spent it all recklessly. When he began to starve, he decided it was time to go home. He knew exactly what he would say. He already worked out how it would go.
““When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.
Please take me on as a hired servant.”’”
Luke 15:17-19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.15.17-19.NLT
The prodigal asked himself, “how many of my fathers hired servants have food to spare? They’re not even sons and they’re not starving.” The son recognized something about the father that he couldn’t see before. His father was a kind and generous man. He was a provider, not just for his own, but for those in his employ. How could he have missed it? He was a son but he had lost everything! How could he come home? “I am no longer worthy of being called a son.” he thought. “I’ll serve you, father, only let me come home.”
““So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming.
Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening.
We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’
So the party began.”
Luke 15:20-24 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.15.20-24.NLT
““Look! I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”
Revelation 3:20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rev.3.20.NLT
The prodigal in Jesus story, in desperation said, “I will go to my father” and say all the right words and he will receive me. Yet it was the father, who had watched so patiently and recognized in the son’s gait the changed heart, who initiated the reconciliation and called for celebration. Only God sees the heart. (I Samuel 16:7) Only God can bring the dead to life.
“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.””
Luke 15:10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.15.10.NLT
“Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.
They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came.
We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”
Galatians 4:1-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.4.4-7.NLT
Jesus is the reason we can pray, addressing God as our Father in heaven.
“Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.”
Ephesians 2:18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.2.18.NLT
“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.”
Ephesians 3:12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.3.12.NLT
“Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.9-10.NLT
Jesus is the way home. He came to earth, lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death in my place, and was raised on the third day to make a way. He says,
““Don’t let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God, and trust also in me.
There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.
If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
John 14:1-3, 5-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.14.1-6.NLT
“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature.
By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.
(It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.2.1-10.NLT
Not by works that no one should boast- that’s the hardest part for so many. I want to earn it, I believe I deserve it, and I think I can accomplish it on my own, but God’s word is clear. You cannot. I cannot. Only Jesus’s perfect sacrifice makes salvation possible. Only in Christ can we be saved. Only in Christ can we come home. Clothed in His righteousness, washed in His blood, we may enter His kingdom.
“When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result?
You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God.
Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:20-23 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.6.22.NLT
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.
Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.
This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”
1 Timothy 2:1-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.2.1-6.NLT
The good news is that though there are two eternal destinations, in Christ, my destiny is secure. The Father will welcome me home with open arms because I have trusted in the substitutionary death of Jesus.
“The Savior is waiting to enter your heart.
Why don’t you let him come in?
There’s nothing in this world to keep you apart.
What is your answer to him?
If you’ll take one step toward the Savior, my friend,
You’ll find His arms opened wide.
Receive Him and all of your darkness will end.
Within your heart He’ll abide.
Time after time He has waited before and now He is waiting again
To see if you’re willing to open the door
Oh, how He wants to come in.”
The Savior Is Waiting~Ralph Carmichael
The New National Baptist Hymnal (21st Century Edition) #192
FIGHT ON MY KNEES~Evan Craft
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