Lord, I'm Coming Home!

Luke 15:18-20



This word "home". What is it?

Sweet home.

That word is so sweet. Home.

We have all heard of someone say that "East or West" home is best. We also are familiar with the sentence, " "I feel home sick."

One dreary afternoon, many years ago, my Mum made up her mind. "I am going home." We knew Mum was not happy. Dad had been drinking a lot. Things were not better because he would turn violent. So we got ready and started the trek. No car. It was probably 20 kilometers away. We made it to "home" later that evening just as it was getting dark.

Let's get a definition of the word.

A search of define:home on google yields a useful definition:

home

həʊm/

noun

1. 1.

   the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.

   "the floods forced many people to flee their homes"

It is a place where a member of the family or household lives.

Why is home so important for us?

One, home is where we get acceptance. We are confident everyone in our family will accept us. However difficult the members of the family may be, we know that we will be accepted. It is especially important when we know the father will accept you.

Two, we are confident we will get forgiveness at home. The members will understand us and will offer forgiveness if we failed them. If I go home and say I am sorry, they will believe me.

Thirdly, there is someone always waiting for us at home. Mum will call to know when you are going home. Dad will be waiting whenever you make up your mind to go home. Is it any wonder we feel "home-sick"? We will be readily received whenever we go home.

Fourth, is about confidence. My confidence is never diminished when I am home. When we visit other unfarmiliar territories, I may loose my confidence. I may be treated in a way that people think I am a "no-body". But when I am home, my confidence is intact.

Fifth. Fellowship. Don't you miss just going to sit with dad or mum and chatting the whole night?  It has happened to me often. We start chatting. It is 7.30pm. We take supper. We chat on. We catch up. We hear the cock crow and we wonder where the time went. We scurry to bed and wake up next day a little late. Then we catch up again more in the day. We have genuine fellowship. It doesn't matter that Dad or Mum spanked you when you were younger. The fellowship is just sweet.

Tomorrow let's explore what happened to the young man we find in Luke 15.

But before I close, I will say this. No matter how far away you have gone, Dad is waiting for you. He will welcome you Home. Sing with me this stanza and chorus. Come back Home today. Repent of your sin and run back into the arms of the Everlasting Father. His hands are wide open to receive you and to take you in...

11.  I've wandered far away from God,
Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I've trod,
Lord, I’m coming home.

o    Refrain:
Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam;
Open wide Thine arms of love,
Lord, I’m coming home.

to be continued...