The Long Walk Home

Jesus told them a story:

"Once a man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, 'Give me my share of the property now.' So the father divided his property between his two sons. Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living.

He had spent everything, when a bad famine struck that country, and he had nothing to eat. So he went to work for a local citizen, who sent him into the fields to feed pigs. Finally, he came to his senses and said, 'My father’s workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! I will go to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against God and against you. Treat me like one of your workers."'

The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him."

Luke 15:11-32 (CEV)

Have you ever looked around and realized you were exactly where you didn't want to be?

When I was in high school, I drove my little dark green Mazda 1800 up into the snowy mountains for target practice. Even though I saw 4x4 trucks getting stuck, I thought I was the exception. I thought I knew better. But then, it happened—my car slid right off the road and was teetering over an eight-foot drop.

The sun was going down. It was getting dark. My friend Stan wanted to take a "shortcut" through the deep snow because he thought it would be faster. But I knew those mountains. I knew the only way home was to stay on the road and take it one step at a time.

In the Bible story, the son found himself in a "far country." He was hungry, dirty, and alone. But the Bible says he "came to his senses." He realized that even his father's helpers lived better than he was living. He decided to stop looking for shortcuts and start the long walk home.

Maybe you feel like you've taken a "shortcut" that led you into a mess. Maybe you feel stuck in the dark. The good news is that the journey back doesn't happen by magic—it starts with one brave step toward the Father. And the best part? Your Father isn't waiting at home to yell at you; He’s already looking for you, ready to run out and bring you home.

1. When have you ever felt "stuck" or far away from where you should be?

2. Why is it so tempting to take a "shortcut" when we are in trouble?

3. What is one step you can take this week to move closer to God?

Text Pastor Vic at 509-919-1897 if you'd like to talk about your journey.