Luke 15 tells the story of a son who asks his father to give him the balance of his inheritance before his fathers death. This son, then promptly goes out of his father’s home and squanders every last dime of the money. One day, while working feeding the pigs, one of the lowest jobs possible this same son begins to daydream about the joy that was living in his father’s house. He then recalls that even the lowest servant was treated better than he was living so he decides to go home and ask to serve in his father’s home.
Now, for the best part of the story…
The son goes home and on his arrival his father sees him coming from a long way off. This father, who had been so mistreated and shunned by his son, began running. Now, this was no jog or fast walk; this daddy was sprinting! He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and rejoiced at the son who was dead but had come back to life. He placed on his son the best robes, he hosted a party for his son to celebrate his homecoming, he wept tears of joy of what was lost but was now found. WOW!
This story has been the common theme of Granada. Many of the people here are drug dealers, addicts, single mothers, fathers with many children, and basically beat down living in the pig pen. They are hurting broken men and women and they are searching for the restoration of their souls. This month we have had the opportunity to live with and get to know three such men, who were at the bottom of the barrel and God ran to them and threw his arms open wide as they accepted their Father’s embrace and love.
Mauricio, Enrique, and Danilo all have sordid pasts. They have a number of “black marks” on their records, they have not had easy lives. Yet, they stand with us as changed men, who are now hungering for their Father’s wisdom and will in their lives. These three men are beautiful examples of how God restores the broken, He makes beauty from ashes, and he is father to the fatherless. A couple of weeks ago we had a wonderful opportunity to be part of a service where Enrique and Danilo were baptized. It was a wonderful day. We had a service at El Puente where testimonies of God’s power were given, songs were sung as praises to our God, and then we all piled into the back of a truck to go down to Lake Nicaragua. We took boats out to an island where we had a picnic lunch, more singing, prayer, and the baptisms. I was so honored to be a part of the service to help our friends show physically what had occured with them spiritually. They have been buried with Jesus and raised to newness and His likeness through salvation. I will never forget the day and how much of a blessing it was.
These guys are such an example to me. So often I grieve my Father’s heart. Even writing this I know I have broken his heart and for that my heart breaks. I know that my Father stands with open arms ready to receive me if I will just come home. Chris Tomlin writes a song called “Come Home Running”. The chorus is this: Come home running, his arms are open wide. His name is Jesus and He understands. He is the answer you are looking for. So come home running, just as you are.
Thank you Father that you came running for me years ago and everytime I stray you do it again. Thank you for your never ending and completely undeserved grace and mercy. Thank you for being broken hearted when I am lost and overwhelmed with joy when I am found. Thank you for not allowing me to be comfortable in the pig pen and reminding me of what Your house looks like. Thank you for redemption, ressurection, restoration, and love. Thank you for knowing my name, every hair on my head, every freckle, every tear that falls, and every laugh. You are amazing daddy!
