The Journey Home

[0:00] A Pastor's Reflections, The Journey Home. Genesis 31, 17 and 18. Then Jacob rose up and set his sons and his wives upon camels for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

[0:16] Luke 15, 17 and 18. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger.

[0:27] I will arise and go to my father. John 20, 17. But go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascended to my father and your father and to my God and your God.

[0:43] The road home is very often not the one of our choosing. The journey to our final destination will many times take us through places and locations that we would never have chosen for ourselves.

[0:55] However, no matter how varied the process may be, our destination does not alter. We go to our father. In Genesis 31, Jacob has just been directed by God to go back home to his father.

[1:13] Beyond that, Jacob is not given any further instructions. How long will it take? Will the journey be easy? What about troubles behind and troubles ahead?

[1:25] How will this decision affect my family? The children are settled here. But Jacob did not receive an answer to these questions or any others. The only answer he was given was to go, to go forward in obedience to God's word and to walk out that process by faith.

[1:44] Psalm 119, 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 1 Corinthians 1, 22-24.

[1:56] For the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness.

[2:09] But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. You see, our mistake is thinking that just one more sign and a little more wisdom would surely be just what is needed to better help us obey the will of God.

[2:31] However, what we find is not the need for more, but for acting in faith upon what we already have. Is God's word true? Has God given us a direction as he gave Jacob?

[2:44] Then why do we hang back in hesitation? What is it that keeps us from stepping out upon the road to our father? In Christ, you and I have been given an opportunity to live without fear and without hesitation.

[3:01] Jesus is not only the Savior who has given us access to God, but he is also the path by which we get to God. Jesus himself is the journey to our father.

[3:12] As we step out in faith upon the command of God to go to our father, we can do so with complete assurance of the destination. Jesus, who has already arrived at the finish, will now accompany us on each step of our journey.

[3:30] Do we know how long that journey will take? No, but Jesus does. Will the journey be easy? No, but Jesus is with us.

[3:42] What about troubles behind and troubles ahead? Jesus has already dealt with them at the cross. And how will this decision affect my family? What about the children? Jesus has that covered as well.

[3:56] Isaiah 40, 11, He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. He shall gather the lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young.

[4:09] Today, we can choose to step forward upon our journey without fear and without hesitancy. No matter how the road may meander, there is still only one way. And it is by that way that we travel to our Father.

[4:24] Jesus, our man of the covenant, is taking us home. John 14, 6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

[4:35] No man comes unto the Father, but by me. Father, thank you for sending your Son to come and lead us home. We may not always like the process, but we have the assurance that the destination is heaven and the journey is Jesus.

[4:52] Thank you that no matter how bumpy the path, our Father is waiting for us at the end. Amen. Amen.