Look at the vastness of the world around you. Look at the stars at night and the clouds during the day. Have you considered how awesome the creator of the universe must be? Well, in fact, He is. God is Almighty and there's nothing that he cannot do, nothing too hard for Him at all.
God is a lot of things; but, one thing he's not is far off. He fills the whole earth with His presence and His creation is ever before His eyes, especially us, whom He created to love.
Parents expect even the slightest appreciation from their children. Don't you think that God is expecting from us too?
The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. -Psalm 14:2
God is looking. He's always watching. As a Father, He is waiting for someone to call on His name, to cry out to Him so that He could answer and reveal Himself.
The Lord is invisible. It is hard to grasp that an invisible person can actually care for us, so this whole thing revolves around faith. Nonetheless, He is longing for His children to come home to Him.
Jesus speaks of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Most people are already familiar with this already, but it doesn't fail to show the heart of the Father.
There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided the property between them.
Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to feed his pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.' So he got up and went to his father.
How many of us have had to go through nothing first before we remember that we have a Father in heaven who has more than enough for everyone in His household? How many of us have had to go through the worst time in our lives first before we even consider calling on the Lord?
The father in the parable did not hesitate to give his son what was being asked for. In the same way, God sometimes allow us to do things our own way. He allows us to have mistakes because only when we have nothing do we appreciate what He has to offer. Remember that we have free will and God will never force us to do anything. So He let's us go. But even so, He's always looking out and waiting for His beloved children.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
How could the father see his son a long way off unless he had already been waiting in expectancy? See, the father of this prodigal son had been waiting. Not a day went by that the father did not think of his son. He was filled with compassion. If he hadn't thought of his prodigal and had longed for him, there wouldn't be any room for compassion. But there was, and before his son even made it to their house, the father ran and threw his arms around his son.
If we'd only take one step towards God, He will take two steps toward us like the father in this parable. His son wasn't even there yet, but he ran to meet him. He ran. He was exited for the return of his son.
The son worked in a pig farm and I could only imagine how filthy he was when he went back home. There was a famine where he came from so it was a tough time when food and water were scarce. He would not have had the time nor the luxury to take a bath or to have a change of clothes. But he went home. He went home as he is despite the fact that he was most likely to have been stinking from being with the pigs.
Now, imagine the son filthy, rugged and carrying a really bad stench with him; and what does the father do despite this? He runs to his son as if the son was the cleanest most fragrant thing in the world.
The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. -Luke 15:11-24 NIV
We see the son asking for forgiveness, but as if his father didn't hear, we find the father commanding the servants to bring out the best for his son.
When I was new at church, I would often hear people say in prayer, "Lord, I'm not worthy." It's true. We are not worthy of such great love and compassion from our Father considering all the things we've done against man and against Him. But His love is greater than our sins. Despite all our mistakes, He is still waiting. We are sinners, that's no lie. All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory. But even if sin is reeking out of us. Even if our immoralities are draped all over us. Even if the worst thing we've ever done is put up in a neon sign for everyone to see, God will still accept us and love us. God's love covers the multitude of our sins. The father in the parable seemed deaf to his son's confession. It doesn't mean that God doesn't care, it's just that He wants us more and sins are a small thing to Him in comparison to us.
Sins are easily forgiven. Just admit all your sins and say, "Father, forgive me," and it's done.
The point is, God wants you. He wants to throw His arms around you and kiss you. He wants to command His servants to bring out the best robe for you, to put a ring on your finger and sandals on your feet. He wants to call for a celebration for you. But you have to return.
If you've been feeling like life could be better, if your bored and tired with your life, if hope seems far off, remember that you have a Father in heaven who is just waiting for you.
No one can come to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6). And for us to return home, we just have to acknowledge that Jesus is the Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead and we will be saved (Romans 10:9).
If you've been out of touch, or if it's only now that you've found out that there's a Father and you want to come home to Him, I encourage you to pray this prayer:
Father, in the name of Jesus, I confess to you that I've sinned. Forgive me, and receive me into your home...into your kingdom where there's more than enough for everybody. Wash me clean and make me new. I acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and I believe that God raised him from the dead. Save me. In the name of your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.
Welcome home!
