Coming Home

When I take a trip it's always exciting to get to the destination. You usually have picked the location because of family to visit or special sights you want to see. When vacation is over it's sometimes hard to pack up and leave but there is normally nothing as wonderful as coming home!

I think of our troops that leave their family and friends to go to other countries to protect our freedom. The reunions that take place when they "come home" are so touching and endearing. It's hard to be separated from our loved ones. Separation comes due to different reasons-trips, military, work, or school. Yet in most cases when these situations have come to an end each of those involved come home.

It makes me think about how at some point in our lives, if we are a christian, we all made the decision to "come home".

A song has been coming to my mind all day and I have been singing it and that it became today's post.

William Kirkpatrick who lived in the 1800s led music at Camp Revival meetings. He said that during one revival he noticed one of the soloists never stayed for the sermon. He started praying for him and the words to this hymn were written. He asked the man to sing it the next evening. The young man was so moved that he stayed for the entire meeting, heard the gospel, and went forward to accept Christ as his Savior.

"Coming home, coming home,

Nevermore to roam,

Open wide Thine arms of love,

Lord, I'm coming home.

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.

I've wasted many precious years,

Now I'm coming home;

I now repent with bitter tears,

Lord, I'm coming home.

I'm tired of sin and straying, Lord,

Now I'm coming home;

I'll trust Thy love, believe Thy Word,

Lord, I'm coming home.

My soul is sick, my heart is sore,

Now I'm coming home;

My strength renew, my hope restore,

Lord, I'm coming home.

My only hope, my only plea,

Now I'm coming home;

That Jesus died, and died for me.

Lord, I'm coming home.

I need His cleansing blood, I know,

Now I'm coming home;

O wash me whiter than the snow,

Lord, I'm coming home."

In the scheme of life, there isn't a better "coming home" trip than seeing someone accept Christ as their personal Savior. 

Christ shared a parable in Luke 15:11-32 on the prodigal son. It's all about coming home!

"And he said, A certain man had two sons:

 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."

As Christians we are temporarily here on earth living one day at a time until our "journey" is complete and then we will be "coming home" to be forever with Christ in heaven. It will be the ultimate trip home and one in which we should want everyone to be able to participate. Take every opportunity and share the gospel with those you love and those who cross your path. I can't think of a better phrase than being able to tell someone that you are "coming home".