The Way Home   

Officer Peter O'Hanlon was patrolling on night duty in northern England some years 
ago when he heard a quivering sob. Turning in the direction from which it came, he saw in the shadows a little boy sitting on a doorstep.  With tears rolling down his cheeks, the child whimpered, "I'm lost. Take me home."  The policeman began naming street after street, trying to help him remember where he lived.  When that failed, he repeated the names of the shops and hotels in the area, but all without success.  The little boy kept sobbing and pleading, “Please, mister, take me home!”

Having repeated all the street names and well-known businesses that he could remember to the little boy to no avail, Officer O’Hanlon remembered that in the center of the city was a well-known church building with a LARGE white cross towering high above the surrounding landscape.  He pointed to it and said, "Do you live anywhere near that?"  The boy's face immediately brightened. "Yes, take me to the CROSS...
I can find my way home from there!"

If you have ever been lost – especially as a child – you understand how that child felt.  Alone.  Confused, even distraught.  Aching to be home again.  There is nothing more troubling than not being able to find your way home.

The Bible teaches that because of our sin, YOU and I are lost.  We are separated by our sins from our Creator (Isaiah 59:1-2) who has created us with an inherent need to be “at home” with Him.  In fact, we are not “at home” until we have
a right relationship with God.  In our sins we are off course, wandering about, not knowing how to get home.  Although it can be numbed by futile pursuits, there is a longing in each of us for home.  But, where is the way home?

That little boy uttered a tremendous truth on that dark and lonely night for TRULY.... the way of the CROSS  of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, leads home.  On the cross, Jesus bore the sins of the world, paying the price for redemption.  On the cross, Jesus provided the way of forgiveness, that we might be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).  The way of the CROSS  leads us home to God.

The way of the CROSS is the way of faith (Hebrews 11:6), repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confession (Romans 10:9-10), baptism for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38), AND continued faithfulness to His will (1 John 1:7).

Indeed, there is nothing more troubling and jeopardizing than not being able to find your way home.  Do NOT despair.

Go to the CROSS.... for the way of the CROSS  leads home!

God bless you!

David A. Sargent, Minister 

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:

                      HTML version:  subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net
                   TEXT version:  subscribe-livingwater-text@lyris.dundee.net

Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchsearch.org

Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org