Day Thirty-Two

There are lots of images and metaphors we use to try and capture what God has done for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We refer to it as…

—a rescue of dying souls
—a payment of immeasurable debt
—a satisfying of divine justice
—a ransom of captive prisoners

…and more. But for today’s purposes, let’s focus on this one:

—a guiding of lost wanderers

As the hymn says, we are all “prone to wander.” And before the cross and the empty tomb, we were all wanderers in a spiritual wilderness, unable to make our way home to the God who created us for relationship with himself.

But Jesus leads us out of that wilderness. He comes to us in our wanderings and shows us a way back to God. As he said in John’s gospel:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”—John 8:12 (ESV)

Whenever we talk about a soul that had been wandering far from God making their way home, the Biblical story most think of is the parable of the prodigal son. It’s an apt and powerful image—the lost son who rejects his father, claims his share of the family fortune early, and leaves home, only to find himself quickly bankrupted financially, emotionally, and spiritually. While earning a living tending to pigs (a particularly offensive job for a practicing Jew), he has a realization. As Jesus tells the story in Luke 15:

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”—Luke 15:17-20 (NIV)

It’s a beautiful image that echoes the love and patience of our heavenly Father who longs for his children to come home. But there’s a part it that, for me, doesn’t quite capture the experience of many lost souls who have found their way back to God—the son isn’t able to hear his father’s voice when he’s far from home and living among the unclean pigs. In our spiritual wanderings, the Holy Spirit is always active in the work of repentance and return. It’s not as much that we come to our senses, but that we hear the call of the one who loves us and desires that we find our way back.

Throughout our spiritual journey there are seasons when we drift away, as the hymn writer says, “prone to leave the God I love.” But God does not give up on us. He tenderly calls us to himself from whatever distant place we have run to, eager to see us renewed and restored.

At the cross and the empty tomb God called us out of death and into life. And he is still calling, still guiding lost wanderers home.

Rise up, follow me,
Come away, is the call,
With the love in your heart
As the only song;
There is no such beauty
As where you belong;
Rise up, follow me,
I will lead you home.

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Time of Reflection

For today’s reflections, you’ll be asked to sit with each verse of today’s song, followed by a question to ponder.

Verse One

Tell me, where is the road
I can call my own?
That I left, that I lost
So long ago.
All these years I have wandered
Oh, when will I know
There's a way, there's a road
That will lead me home?

1) What seasons of wandering have you known in your spiritual journey? Spend some time reflecting on what brought you to those seasons—are there patterns or common themes that can often prompt such a season in your life? Offer anything you notice to God, asking him to teach you about your own inclinations to wander.

Verse Two

After wind, after rain
When the dark is done
As I wake from a dream
In the gold of day,
Through the air there's a calling
From far away,
There's a voice I can hear
That will lead me home.

2) In seasons of wandering, how did God’s voice call to you? What did he use to show you the road that leads home? Spend some time in prayer offering gratitude to God for his faithful pursuit of us, even when we run the opposite direction.

Verse Three

Rise up, follow me
Come away, is the call
With the love in your heart
As the only song
There is no such beauty
As where you belong
Rise up, follow me
I will lead you home

3) Spend some time pondering this lyric: “There is no such beauty as where you belong.” Spend some time reflecting on what it means to find our home in God, where we belong.

4) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“Send me your light and your faithful care,
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.”—Psalm 43:3-4 (NIV)