Just a Few Steps From Home

It’s something about those last few steps from the house that seem the most arduous when finishing up my walk. Just when I can finally see my house in sight, my strength wanes. As I rounded the corner Saturday, with my home in full view, God interrupted my walk to illustrate to me the position that I believe many find themselves in at this very moment.

Why would coming home be hard? For me, my home is a place of comfort. My little place of tranquility from the noisiness of the outside world. It contains so many of things I love. So, it seems I’d be sprinting home.

Spiritually speaking home represents our connectedness with the Father. He showed me that many people we’ve been praying for are just a few steps from home. But these last few steps before turning their lives over to God are often the most difficult. Sure they’re tired from the toiling of their current lives but they wonder can they really make it to God. The bondages of sin confines their movement and thoughts in their minds try to convince them that they’ll never make it. It’s too late. They’ve already missed their chance. Or they’ve done too much.

Home is not just a place of comfort but it’s also a place of responsibility. Owning a home requires that I pay some bills and provide maintenance to the house. In the same way, giving our lives to God positions us for responsibility. I’m not talking in the sense that we have to earn our salvation. Salvation is an unmerited gift made available to all of us because of the finished work of the cross. But many wonder when I make it to God can I really do all that He requires. Can I live up to His name? Can I be a proper reflection of Him?

 As we pray for others, we are not always able to see outwards signs of their moving closer to Him. Yet I'm encouraged to continue pressing and praying. For who knows, today just may be the day they return home.