THE FAR COUNTRY

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’  (Luke 15:17-19 NKJV)

We need not travel far to reach the far country, the thought of sin, the wings of passionate evil desire, the lightning flash of a look, may land us as far from God as the east is from the west. The essence of the far country is selfishness. Notice the stress of the prodigal's emphasis upon himself, "give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.'" It is not wrong to make use of and enjoy all the good and perfect gifts with which God allows in our life, so long as they are held in thankful recognition of and fellowship with Himself. But when we depart from God, there is waste, for we lack the one object which gathers up all our activities for a worthy focus; riot, because in the absence of God there is no sufficient corrective or antidote for strong and masterful passion; want, because the soul was made for God, and can never be satisfied until it rests in Him.

How foolish it is for a man to separate himself from God, and to join himself to a citizen in the land of forgetfulness! The citizens of this world have nothing to give to the starving soul of man, save to send it forth to feed the swine, which stand for the lower desires of our nature. This is the alternative which too many wiseacres suggest: "See life, take your fill of pleasure; fill the passing hours with revelry, amusement, dissipation and immorality." But the hunger of the soul cannot be satisfied with such things. Though husks are good for swine, they will not suffice for the sons of men. Like the wise man of old, we cry, "He hath put eternity in my heart, vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" We cannot rest in that which satisfies others. From the putrid swine troughs we long for the food which the servants enjoy in our Father's home; from the stagnant pools we thirst for the crystal clear water.

It is under such circumstances that we come back to ourselves and come back to our Father. Let's believe in the love of God our Father, which yearns after us in our absence from Him, which sees us while we are yet a great way off, and will run to welcome us, as we return, with forgiveness and restoration.

PRAYER

You know, Heavenly Father, what I most require; help me, and out of the treasury of Your goodness, comfort my needy soul. I ask this in Jesus' name, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #292:
I will cover you with My feathers and protect you with My wings.

Psalm 91:4 (WEB)
He will cover you with his feathers.
Under his wings you will take refuge.
His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.