Come home. You’re not too far gone. You’re not out of reach. You’re not hopeless. You’re never too far from the embrace of the forgiving, compassionate, and loving arms of your Creator God.
Many people live their lives not believing what I just wrote. They think they’ve gone too far and too long in their own ways apart from God. They think that their sin has pushed them so far away that they are now in the realm of the unforgivable. What a lie. What pride.
The person that thinks they are too far gone also believes in a god that is far too small. That is not the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible’s power is limitless. He does not confine His power to the extent of our sins, and He is not surprised by our wayward actions.
No, no. The God of the Bible is far bigger than any of our sin habits and sin addictions. He’s far greater than our sin struggles and sin patterns. He came to earth as the God-man to prove it. There’s also an Old Testament story that illuminates the point as well…
THE STORY OF WICKED KING AHAB
Ahab (one of the kings of ancient Israel) ruled the northern tribes of God’s people in the 9th century BC. His reign was full of sin, which led him to marry a pagan princess, institute the worship of the pagan deity, Baal, and was widely known for persecution of God’s prophets. In fact, it was even said of him that, “Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord…”. What a condemnation. What a lost man. However, he was still of the people of God, and God had made promises to His people that were based upon His character alone.
Thus, Ahab, though considered as one of the most evil kings of ancient Israel, could bend the heart of God. He could, by humbling himself before God, experience God’s compassion and mercy.
And this is exactly what happened.
“It came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days…”
1 Kings 21:27-29a
God had previously said, “Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel…” But, God’s heart was bent to the humility of Ahab, and He relented. What compassion. What mercy. What love. This is our God.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- Have you strayed from God in sin?
- Do you believe that God will bring judgment upon those who continue in sin?
- Do you fear this judgment?
- Come home.
- Come home.
- Humble yourself before your God.
- Come home.
www.staffandstones.com. Used by permission of www.dbc.org.