2 Peter 2:22 They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”
There is something crazy about people dressing up pigs. Have you seen this lately? Someone walking with a pet pig all dressed and cleaned up. Some have the cutest collars and even sweaters. I found a picture a two pigs walking down the aisle in a wedding ceremony. How crazy is that? One of my favorite snacks is pigs in a blanket but not a pig on my blanket!
Growing up in NYC, handicaps my knowledge of pigs. My wife on the other hand grew up on a farm with pigs and she would be the first one to tell you that you can dress up a pig all you want. You can clean them and make them look pretty all you want. You can even sit them down at the dinner table with you for some BBQ chicken because serving bacon would be a cruel thing to do. And the first chance that pig has to run back to that mud they are out of there! That pig, no matter how they look or how clean they are will always return to the pigpen where it came. Why? Because the pig is a pig no matter how you make it look or feel.
There are many of children of God who do the same. They get cleaned up, dressed up and they experience grace, love, forgiveness, second chances, even a hundred chances, but still something leads them back to that pigpen once again.
The difference is, children of God who go back to the pigpen are not returning home. They are returning to the place keeping them from going home.
One thing I have learned about “Prodigal Sons and Daughters;” they eventually come home! Children of God do not come home when you want, but eventually, they do come home.
Jesus said that, My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. John 10:29
In the story of the Prodigal Son you see the Father waiting and looking forward to the day of his lost son returning. You see the response of the Father who wastes no time running with compassion to meet his lost son. Then the unexplainable happens. The Father throws a party! There is dancing! There is no pig roast but steaks everywhere! The Father when asked by his other son, “how could you do such a thing,” responded with “We had to celebrate and be glad because your brother was dead but now he is alive. He was lost but now he found.”
What keeps you from returning home to the biggest party ever?
Please join us at Encounter this Friday as we launch the 12 Anchors of Hope teaching series and studies. This series is part of a 12-week curriculum that we have been working on for years.
It’s the perfect time to come home! It’s the perfect time to get real about your problems. It’s the perfect time to get into an Encounter mid-week Study. It’s the perfect time to invite a prodigal to Encounter. It’s the perfect time to come back to Encounter. It’s the perfect time to get connected with other people who are getting honest about their spiritual growth and health.
This Friday is the start of the Encounter teaching season and we could not be more excited. We have several announcements and rollouts this Friday you don’t want to miss. Groups have started for the Encounter studies and it is not too late to get plugged into them.
I look forward to seeing you this Friday kicking off the new teaching season!
Blessings
Bill Rieser
Encounter Pastor