Homecoming
Recently, I was sitting on a flight, reflecting on this journey called life. More specifically, I was reflecting on the last 26 years of the journey where I have been in ‘Christian ministry.”
Ministry does not guarantee the absence of hardship and difficulties. In fact, it carries a whole new set of them. I once read that our hearts carry hurts and past memories. This sounds odd, and modern science is just now beginning to discover that this is true. However, God knew it all along. That is why the bible says in Proverbs, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov 23:7), and for this reason, God says to “guard your heart with all diligence” (Prov 4:23).
Our hearts can carry a lifetime of memories and feelings that we believe to be reality. Few people can overcome and break free from their “heart beliefs.” Billions of dollars are spent annually on professional counselors who are trained to help people manage their “stuff.” In the Christian spectrum, counselors often use different approaches to help hurting people break free, yet often to limited or no avail. Many faithful believers spend a lifetime trying to manage the baggage from their past. Why? They are likely missing the key element.
Experiencing God's Love
I have come to believe that “experiencing the love of God in your heart” first is the only way of truly breaking free from the past and walking into your destiny of wholeness and liberty, which Christ has provided for us.
One moment in the presence of God will do more for you than 100 years of human intervention. There is a battle going on in the hearts of every human being; it is the battle for identity, self-value, and to see God as He really is.
Coming to a place of rest in the love of God has not been easy for me. I am wired to get things done. I am known to make things happen and to get results. Now please understand, God does not want us to live unproductive lives, He wants us to “be fruitful.” In fact, that was the first mandate from God in Eden’s Garden, to “be fruitful and multiply.” However, most of us turn the “be” into a “do.”
Fruitfulness was never supposed to be something that we strive and struggle to produce, but rather, fruitfulness is supposed to be the result of abiding in the branch. It is through being in the presence of God and knowing your identity and worth that we will be fruitful and multiply- not vice versa.
The Battle for Identity
There is an epidemic taking place. It crosses cultures, bridges generations, and has affected all of humanity. It started in Eden’s Garden and has continued down through every generation. It has at its core Lucifer’s lie, “Did God really say…,” and continues with, “You will become like God.” This age-old lie is the source of all deception. It was the driving factor behind all evil. The enemy has convinced us that God is really not as the Bible says He is and that, in turn, we are not who God says we are in him. You must understand that when you don’t see God as He really is, then you will not know who you are and how much you are loved. The result is that your whole perception of reality becomes twisted.
Children Without A Father
Jesus told His disciples before He left town for heaven that “I will not leave you as orphans” (John 14:18). An orphan is a person who does not have a home and who does not have a loving and caring family involved in their life. An orphan builds his life around tremendous lack:
Lack of love,
Lack of belonging,
Lack of safety,
Lack of real purpose.
Lack of these basic emotional needs forces the person to fill the void in his heart with substitutes. The substitutes will radically vary with each person. For one person, substance abuse is used to try to fill the void. To another, hard work drives him to perform to show to the world his value. There are many signs suggesting that people can be spiritual orphans.
This generation has been called the “fatherless generation.” From a natural standpoint, the statistics in the US alone are staggering.
63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) – 5 times the average.
90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average.
85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average (Center for Disease Control).
71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – 9 times the average (National Principals Association Report).
75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes – 10 times the average.
The truth is that no person needs to be an orphan. Every person has a father, and He is the world's greatest and most reliable father.
Embracing Healing, Freedom, and Restoration
If you or someone you love has or is growing up without knowing the love of the Father, there is hope! You are never too old to come home to the Father’s house. You have not run too far, nor have you made the ultimate mistake that has caused God to forget and reject you. In fact, as you will see in my next article, God has already paid your debt, forgiven your sins, and opened the door for your healing, freedom, and restoration.
As a believer, you are loved unconditionally and are also God’s answer to show His love to your world. You hold the solution in a world that is hurting, disillusioned, and confused. Jesus is the way, the reality, and the life. God bless.
-Nate Tanner