Not many parents can sleep very soundly until they know their children are in for the night. Our big, teenage guys would stop by our room no matter how late it was and let us know they were home. Some of the most beautiful words in the English language to us were: "Mom, Dad, I'm home." Maybe you know a child who is way overdue.
Luke 7:12 says, "As Jesus approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out; the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and He said, 'Don't cry.' Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying stood still." This is truly a dramatic moment here. He said, "Young man, I say to you, 'Get up!' The dead man sat up and began to talk. And Jesus gave him back to his Mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God."
The most touching words of all for me are these, "And Jesus gave him back to his Mother." You know, Jesus is still in the business of giving children back to their parents, even when it appears they'll never come back and you feel hopeless. Maybe you or someone you know has a son or a daughter who's away right now; spiritually, emotionally, physically.
Here are four principles to remember when your child is far from home.
- Most of God's work is invisible. Like plants getting ready to sprout and come out, and flowers blooming in the spring, we don't see anything happening all winter. It looks like nothing is going on under the ground. But God is at work all the time. Much of what God is doing to bring that child home, you can't see. But you'd better believe it's going on under the ground where you can't see it.
- The hound of heaven - the Holy Spirit - pursues that child wherever he goes. They can get away from you; they can't get away from Him.
- Open arms do more than open mouths to bring kids home. Sometimes we can talk too much and push them so hard we actually push them away from the Lord. The Father of the prodigal son didn't chase the son. He just kept his arms open for him to come home.
- Remember that God does answer prayer. Release that child again to the Lord. Don't try to do God's job of changing that child's heart.
Continue to claim that child for Jesus Christ. "Be not weary in well doing, for in due season you will reap if you do not give up!" Jesus is still in the business of bringing kids home to their parents and home to Him. Because of His love, I believe one day you will hear, "Mom ... Dad ... I'm home."