Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
‘So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.”
Luke 15: 20 (NLT)
No matter how early or late it is when I return home these days things are always the same when I arrive.
Nearing the end of the street, approaching the end of the day’s travels, while coming upon the entrance to the driveway, I catch a glimpse of the warm lights shining from the sides of the walkway leading up to the front porch, as well as the one lamp hanging down lighting the front door to our home.
There is always a light on these days welcoming me home.
And because of that, for some reason, I always feel a warmth as I approach, and welcome. I always feel that I have come home, and it’s where I belong.
Yet despite the lift the lights themselves provide when I see them while turning into the driveway; while I am still a long way off, knowing that they will be on as they always are waiting for me, provides me with an even greater sense of belonging and welcome.
How about for you? Is there a light on waiting for your return? Is there a place for you of warm welcome today, and every day reminding you that you belong?
What about in years past, perhaps as a child, growing up, or even later in life—has there always been a “light” on for you? A “light” of warm welcome like that lost son experienced in the scripture above from the familiar story of the prodigal son, or viewed from a different perspective—the story of the prodigal father.
Maybe there have been seasons in your life where you didn’t always feel a sense of welcome. Where you were never sure whether a light would be on for you or not. Where life at home wasn’t warm or welcoming. I can understand.
And as a result maybe you, or someone you know, have had a difficult time connecting with a father like that one painted in the parable of Christ set out in the scripture passage recorded by Dr. Luke above. A father who, despite what you may have done in your life, or whether you had run away or turned your back on who he was and all that He wanted for you—would still run to you, hug you and kiss you with joy when you returned.
A father who would have a light on for you. Whenever you came home.
But let’s take a moment to think about that passage and the father depicted there just a bit more. Maybe you went through a period of your life in years past, where you felt all alone. No matter what may have been the case for you, let’s reflect on that father for a moment. No matter whether you felt warmly welcomed or not in years past, the father in that passage may just be running to you and me as well.
There is an eternal truth from that passage that we don’t want to miss. There is something there which you can and should claim for every day and every return home in the future.
And it’s simply this—the Father who loves you most—will always have a light on to welcome you. That no matter what may have happened to you in the past, no matter what detours or wrong turns you may have taken, no matter how you were treated by others, no matter the mistakes you may have made—your heavenly Father as depicted by Christ in the passage above is a running Father.
And he’s running to you and to me.
And He will always keep a light on for you.
Always. Welcome home!
In His Name—Scott
Copyright 2014. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.
