Day 4 - Still A Long Way Off

A friend once said to me, “Whenever you feel a distance between you and God, remember that God isn’t the one who moved.” What a wonderful thought that is! Perhaps no story in Scripture illustrates this powerful truth more than that of the prodigal son. Now, I’ve read this story so many times over the years, and each time I am reminded which character I play in Jesus’ parable. I’m the one who moved. I’m the prodigal who caused the distance between myself and the Father who loves me. We are all that prodigal. The Bible tells us “all have sinned.” Not some of us. Every single one of us. And that sin is what causes the distance between us and the Father who loves us. 

Now, I love how God can show us something new in Scripture, even if it’s a verse we’ve read a thousand times before. There’s a reason why the Bible is described as “living and active.” That’s exactly what happened as I re-visited the wayward journey of the prodigal son. After the son had squandered his inheritance and found himself filled with regret for the choices he had made, he decided he would head back home. “So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” 

“While he was still a long way off…” Oh, how I love those words! He had not given up hope that his son would return. The father had not written his son off. He was on the lookout, waiting for his son’s return. The moment he saw him, he came running after his beloved child. This is the kind of Father you have. You might feel like you’re a long way from home, like your sin has created too great a distance between you and God. But God stays. He stays loving, forgiving, and waiting for your return. Turn your heart back in the direction of the Father today and you’ll find that even though you might feel a long way off, the God who stays is already running towards you with open arms.