It Is Time To Come Home!
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| My Parents |
You may know the story of the Prodigal from Luke 11 or you may not but it is still my story and I want to share it with you. The prodigal demanded his share of his father's estate and when he got it, he took off and went and wasted it all in a short time. He spent money on things like drugs, alcohol and prostitutes until he had spent all that was intended to be his inheritance from his father. After he had spent all of the money, he went and got a job on a pig farm, feeding the pigs. This job, along with the life he had chosen for himself when he had the money would have made him unredeemable in the eyes of most respected members of Jewish society. He had violated everything that they built their lives around, shunned their traditions and wasted a large sum of money. He could not go home because they would treat him as an outcast but he was starving. He decided to go and see if his father would take him in as a servant. When he started getting nearer to home, his father came out running to him. The father had been watching and waiting for his return the whole time that he was gone. His life away did not matter. What mattered was that his son was home. He put new clothes on him and gave him back his ring, a symbol that he was a son and then he through a party ti celebrate the return.
When I was 18 years old, I did my own thing. I grew up in the Church but I did not live like I knew God. I was partying and doing whatever I thought would satisfy me at the moment. I did not believe much of what I heard in Church because I saw so many that were there on Sunday but Monday through Saturday lived completely contrary to that. I heard lots of stories about miracles but seldom saw them. (I did experience on myself but like many, I chose to ignore it as I got older.) I figured that there was a God and the there was truth hidden in the Scripture but we could choose how much we wanted to submit to it. I knew many that called Jesus "Savior" but few lived like He was Lord also. Those that did, I thought might be a little off. I was living to just get by and be good enough until I realized that I was far from good at all. I did not let that revelation change my heart however. It just produced shame and drove me deeper into my own self indulgent life.
One day when I was 21 I was out drinking with a friend as was a common activity for the time and we were talking. He had come to the conclusion that the whole Church thing was BS and was ready to just chuck it all. I was really struggling with this as our drunken conversation continued and in the middle of it all, I heard God as clear as I ever have in my life. No, it was not an audible voice but it was screaming at me in my head and through my stupor, I heard truth. He said "You know it is all true. Just because you do not see people living like it does not make the truth a lie." Instantly I knew that every word of the Bible is true and that the whole 66 books had relevance to my life today. God was calling me out of the lies I was living in and was setting my free.
I wish that I could say that I was completely delivered from all of my sins and vices from that moment on but that would not be true. At times I still drank too much. I still smoked. Pornography would continue to have a place for many years and lust was a stronghold that would haunt me for a long time. I struggled with fears, especially of what men thought of me and of financial insecurity. It was not that I did not want freedom but I did not know how to get it. I did however continue to talk to to God about these struggles and I confessed them. I read the Bible and prayed. I immersed myself in worship at times also. I wish that the process had been overnight but it wasn't. God has walked with me from where He found me that night in the car into more and more freedom.
The latest freedom He is walking with me into is freedom from food and as we have been walking through that process, I have dropped 3 pant sizes because He has led me to freedom and food is not a replacement for His presence anymore. I look forward to buying new clothes soon but for now I am excited to wear pants from when I was down 70 lbs from cancer. The last time I wore many of the clothes I am wearing now I was down 70 lbs with a 10" tumor in my colon. I am so excited to lose weight without real struggle because it is freedom and not guilt that is causing it. This is what sanctification looks like.
Many of you are saying that I do not know what you have done. You do not believe Jesus could possible love you now. That is a lie. I have been where you are and I am coming to know the depths of the love of Jesus for me. He did not see me as the mess I was but He saw me for who He created me to be. He saw me as a son, brother, missionary, fellow heir, friend, and bride. Jesus wanted me to come home and He wants you to also. He is not concerned with where you have been. You past cannot chase Him away. He has never ran from you. God is a good Father. He loves you and has been waiting for you to just turn toward Him. He is waiting to wrap in an embrace, put new clothes on you, introduce you as His son and throw a party to celebrate your return to the home that you were created for.
I would love to sit and talk with you and share what God has done in my life. If you have any questions or doubts, I would love to tell you all of the ways God has answered my doubts and set me free. My testimony is much longer than this but God has walked me through cancer, given me purpose and taken me well beyond my wildest expectations. I was supposed to be dead by now yet I am going strong and it is all because of the goodness of God in my life. Lets get together and talk. Message me on facebook or email me at thegeokr@yahoo.com. In the meantime, listen to this song from 30 years ago and hear the call of God for you.
Home Again-Chrystavox
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