Hope died the day I left Eden inn my self-invented
Garbs of shame. Faith gave up the day judgment
Took me from the presence of my Father. Peace
Departed with a bite of that apple and fear
Overcame the love I knew all my life. The day
I went against His will, death displaced the life
I had and shared with Dad. It was over. I knew it
I lost it. I never thought I could see is face again
But unknown to me, His eyes followed in all
My wanderings. His heart felt my sufferings
And at last He who lives in contentment couldn’t
Watch His seed perish: He came roaring down.

Food For Thought: Like the story of the prodigal son, so were Adam and Eve, and so are we in our relationship with God, our Father. The young man’s rebellion was unpardonable. He rejected the love of His Father. He wanted life on his own terms, in his own way. And when he got what he wanted, it didn’t take long for the error of his ways to catch up with him like it always does with us. Too late, we learn that we took the wrong turn; that what appeared as change was chains in disguise; that what glittered like gold was only but dung. He had to lose everyone and everything that meant anything to him to learn that lesson. Going home was not an option – there was no home anymore; he had taken his cut and gone his way. It was a matter of make it work or perish with it. Yet, despite the rebellion and rejection, the heart of the Father followed the errant son. That’s why the Father was able to identify him from a long way off, when nobody else could. It was not a shock to the Father when the delinquent came Home. He was not surprised that things didn’t turn out well for the lad. Father knew all along but He let the son make his choices and learn his lessons. When it was time, Father was there waiting to take him back in. What a lesson: God never gives up on us even when we give up on Him and on ourselves. He is always at hand, waiting for us to turn to Him and be restored.

Scripture: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3: 16.

Prayer: Dear Lord, but for Your mercies, I would have been dead: thank You for Your heart of compassion that came to save the lost, amen.