When I was about 10 years old I went on a Father/Son camping trip at a camp in Northwest Florida. It is a memory that will stick with me until the day that I die. Of course I remember getting first place in a relay race and winning a ton of medals for the events we did, but there was something that I took with me that weekend that has been embedded into my soul.
The last night all the dads lined up in the front and each son went down the line and was hugged and each dad looked them in the eye and said they were proud of them and they loved them. My dad had told me he loved me his whole life but when it got to be his turn to look into my eyes and tell me that he loved me I burst into tears and my heart was stamped with a eternal revelation of the LOVE of God the Father.
In the new Star Wars movie, Kylo Ren (antagonist) had a vision of his father whom he had killed. Han Solo, his father, looked him in the eyes and said that Kylo Ren is dead his real IDENTITY was Ben, who his FATHER said he was. Kylo tried to break down and tell him that he was too far gone–Han interrupted him and said “I Know”, as if to say that none of your mistakes matter, he told him to come home, and stand in goodness again. He then said he knew what he needed to do but didn’t have the strength to do it–THEN Han touched his face and gave him the authority to throw his pain, his emptiness and his confusion away. Only leaving him with purpose and a deep unrelenting Love.
I cried uncontrollably during that scene because I felt God speaking this over millions of people today. It is the ENCOUNTER with God’s love that makes the difference.
In today’s society I find my own self grasping created things for that same validation of love and it leaves me in a dark, anxious and empty place. I firmly believe the most powerful story in all of the bible is the Prodigal Son. He was told his whole life by his father that we was loved and appreciated but had never let the reality of his Father’s love stare into his soul, instead he left and scratched and leaped at every beautiful looking trap and ended up bruised, battered and broken. Until he decided that there is always a path back home.
Today God the FATHER is standing at the end of the road yelling so loudly that you can hear his vocal chords breaking with each trembled call. If you find yourself looking for a purpose, validation and wholeness– close your eyes and let the adrenaline fill your spirit and start running faster than you have ever ran, SPRINTING into the arms of God the Father.
Let him look you in the eyes and tell you how much he loves you, how proud of you he is and nothing matters other than that you are HIS and that you are now home–and at peace knowing WHOSE you are.
GREATER DEPTHS 