Coming Home...
 Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could win the prize without having to run the race?
Many of us, as Christians, have believed that Heaven is the goal of our lives. Meanwhile, we have lived with lifeless routines and so many ‘shoulds’ and ‘oughts’ that we may have begun to think that there must be more to it than this. After all, Jesus came to bring us “life in all its fullness”!
Jesus came that we would have life and have it in all its fullness. (John 10:10). This means a life based on relationship. Jesus makes it very clear that he is going to the Father in order to prepare a place for us and then he is going to take us there so we may be with him (John 14:2-3). A few verses later he gives us a clue that this is not necessarily about Heaven once we die. Jesus is showing us the way to the Father now and the Father and the Son are going to come and make their home with us (John 14:23).
The whole point of the gospel is that we can be at home with the Father. Think of all the good things about your home – comfort, rest, possessions, family, being free to be yourself, relaxation and pleasure. That’s how God wants it to be for you. God wants to make His home with you!
There is nothing you can do to earn your way back home to the Father. It is a completely free gift. All you have to do is stop thinking you don’t need any help, reach out your hand to the Father and let Him bring you back home.
 Our own will power can not deal with our sin. It’s as we turn and are filled with Father’s love that these things diminish.
When I was a small child and Dad came home I would run and greet him. He would envelop me in his arms. He would pick me up and hug me. That’s exactly what God wants to do to you. He wants to shower His love on you. He wants to pick you up and hold you in His arms. He wants to hold you close and love you. He wants to be a Father to you!
 When we find this perfect home we find our security, our identity and belonging. Our striving and struggles can be laid aside and the loneliness and desperation can be met. As we come home to the Father and let His love fill our hearts we will know that we have found the love we have been looking for all of our lives.
The prize of the journey is not just everlasting life in Heaven, as wonderful as that will be. The prize of our journey is coming home to a perfect Father and enjoying an intimate relationship with Him.
He really loves you and wants you to come home to Him today.
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