Back On The Tracks
“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 15:20
We do not see it often, but trains do still derail from time to time. Not long ago (September 21, 2021, to be exact) near Joplin, Montana, an Amtrak train carrying 146 people between Seattle and Chicago derailed resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. It was weeks before the wreckage was finally cleaned up, and the damaged rails were finally repaired.
There was a huge investigation into the cause, and a massive amount of equipment and manpower was needed to remove all the debris, repair the tracks, and get the trains moving again. The derailment was chaotic, but the goal was to restore the public confidence in the system and get back to normalcy.
The story in many ways reflects what can happen in our personal lives as well. Sometimes, we find ourselves veering off course; spiritually, morally, or ethically. We get off the path God has for us, and when that happens, we find ourselves unhappy with our current circumstances. We become frustrated with ourselves, unfulfilled in life, and dissatisfied spiritually.
We get off course because we think there is something better out there in the world, and we experiment with things that do not align with God’s purpose and plan for our lives. Just like the Prodigal Son, we get off track. Our relationships suffer, our faith is weakened, we end up in sin, and consequently, there is wreckage all around us. Our family life may be horrible, we do not pray as we should, and we find ourselves in a place we never thought we would be in.
But thanks to God, we can repair a life that has been broken, and restore a relationship with God that has been lost. Luke 15:20 says, “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.” God is filled with that same compassion. He is ready to help you get back on the tracks!
We do not see it often, but trains do still derail from time to time. Not long ago (September 21, 2021, to be exact) near Joplin, Montana, an Amtrak train carrying 146 people between Seattle and Chicago derailed resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. It was weeks before the wreckage was finally cleaned up, and the damaged rails were finally repaired.
There was a huge investigation into the cause, and a massive amount of equipment and manpower was needed to remove all the debris, repair the tracks, and get the trains moving again. The derailment was chaotic, but the goal was to restore the public confidence in the system and get back to normalcy.
The story in many ways reflects what can happen in our personal lives as well. Sometimes, we find ourselves veering off course; spiritually, morally, or ethically. We get off the path God has for us, and when that happens, we find ourselves unhappy with our current circumstances. We become frustrated with ourselves, unfulfilled in life, and dissatisfied spiritually.
We get off course because we think there is something better out there in the world, and we experiment with things that do not align with God’s purpose and plan for our lives. Just like the Prodigal Son, we get off track. Our relationships suffer, our faith is weakened, we end up in sin, and consequently, there is wreckage all around us. Our family life may be horrible, we do not pray as we should, and we find ourselves in a place we never thought we would be in.
But thanks to God, we can repair a life that has been broken, and restore a relationship with God that has been lost. Luke 15:20 says, “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.” God is filled with that same compassion. He is ready to help you get back on the tracks!
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