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Coming Home to Daddy
5/26/2006
I was caught up in three verses from the Bible and it made me wonder about the millions of people worldwide that have given up on "religion" or given up on "the church". These "institutions" have stolen away the moves of the Holy Spirit in the lives of some people who have found it better and easier to give up, than, fight back. Thus these people without a church, are stragglers, on the outside, hurting from what was done to them, or not done for them. So, they stay away. Without an active Church Body reaching out to them, each person is resigned to staying on the outside, perhaps with an internal resolve that this personal boycott of church will somehow be make a difference as would a silent demonstration. Sad.The three verses from the Bible, however, served as a reminder about who we are and whom we should be. A child that falls and cuts himself doesn't stop running, he waits till it scabs over, then runs again. A adult who gets a bad rating on the job, buckles down and works harder to make a difference. We know how to do it, we know when to do it, and we are not quitters. We are, perhaps, selfish in that we are seeking gratification for ourselves... to not get fired, to train for the race, to seek higher ground for the things that seem to matter. In many cases, we becomes masters of our own destiny, by striving and achieving our goals.
But, what if you have lost your goals? What if you have forgotten what you are striving for?
The two verses from the Bible showed me that the only way to come home to Daddy is to put away our personal pride. Now this is not to say that each person who has stayed away is in need of a prodigal experience, like the young man who lived lavishly before coming home to his father. He came home holding his head in shame, knowing that the work of his own father's servents was better than the life he was living. He went home. But, he did put away his pride. He did resolve in his own mind that his first service was to ask for forgiveness from his father. This same pride elevates you over those who have hurt you, so that you will not forgive them. This same pride elevates you over the knowledge that you have quit, given up, and not chosen to stand in the moment of adversity. A prideful, quitter.
Once seperated, the ability to come back becomes harder every day. The anger turned you away. Then the thought of waking up on a Sunday to spend time with God conflicts with a good nights sleep, a day at the golf course, or any other distraction. You still remain a good person, and perhaps have created your own religious dogma that insists that your goodness is a substitute for the wisdom and will of God. Have you elevated yourself so high as to believe that you can willfully change God's will?
As early as I can remember, there were some very simple precepts that I learned about God.
1. God is everywhere.
2. God knows everything.
3. God loves you.
Hiding at home is no excuse. God is everywhere, and see's everything. Believing in your own goodness will not lead you to God nor to heaven. God knows everything. God even knows what is going on inside your mind. He has free access to what you believe are your own thoughts. Knowing that He is everywhere, and that he knows everything... may make you quite uncomfortable, and that's entirely understandable. But, it's not a violation of who you are because God loves you. If He didn't have access to your thoughts, He couldn't guide your life; He couldn't help you in the things you have most struggled with.
But when you stay at home, you push Him off. He's already there waiting for you.
No church is perfect. Notice, I only used the word Church, using a capitol C, to represent the Church Body that Jesus established in His heart. In the world today, there are churches that are closer to the heart of Jesus Christ, and there are churches that are not. Therefore, it's for you to seek and find where the Spirit of God is moving, and where the Spirit of God is not moving. If you find a Church where you begin to grow in Spirit, stay there, for a time. The Bible says we are to 'test the spirits' to see if they are from God. You will never 'test the spirits' at home. But, when you find a Church God will meet you:
Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Repentance is where you decide in your heart to make a change and ask forgiveness. The day you say you are going back to Church, you have begun the journey of repentance. The day you say to God you are "Sorry for having been away for so long" you will have completed your journey. You may not say it in the first church you visit. But the one that you visit where God is active and alive, you will repent. If your pride is keeping you from moving forward, even now, consider the option:
Romans 2:5-6 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his deeds'':
Repentance, or wrath. Both come from the same place, the God of Love. The choice, however, is yours. He is calling you back, right now. Not because of what you've done, not because you need forgiveness, not because you're good, but because He Loves You.
Tell Him: "Jesus - bring me back home to you. I'm sorry for my sins. I don't want to be parted from you ever again."
And He will.
