Go Home!
Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance. – Luke 8:1-3.
Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. – Mark 5:1-5.
There was once a cat who left home about ten years ago and his name was “Sneakers.” Sneakers did not come back home, and the owners of the little cat were heartbroken. The owners searched in Seattle door-to-door, put out fliers and put ads in the newspapers in attempts to find their beloved cat, Sneakers. But Sneakers could not be found – would he ever be seen again? Although Sneakers had been just a kitten, the owners of the cat had him electronically tagged with a microchip, which included information about how to contact the owners.
Ten years later, Sneakers, a longhaired black cat was left at Sacramento, California’s animal shelter. The people leaving the cat said that they could no longer care for it. Surprisingly, the microchip was found, and the original owners were contacted. What a great joy and surprise to learn that their beloved cat, Sneakers, was still alive! A spokesperson for the animal shelter said about the original owner, “She was shocked. She was extremely happy and couldn’t believe it.” It did not matter what condition the cat might be in they just wanted him back home. Sneaker’s owners will soon make the 600-mile trip to Sacramento to take their cat back to his home.
Almost two thousand years ago, there were many people who had wandered away from their original owner. They had been discarded by society and it was thought that they were just worthless unredeemable trash. Mary Magdalene was one of those as was the demon possessed man of Gadara. Everyone went out of their way to avoid any contact with these discards of society. Everyone that is except for their original owner, their Creator, Jesus. Jesus found these lost and tormented people in the trash bin of the world and brought them home.
No one thought that these worthless people would ever be of any value. Jesus took them home and gave them new life along with new purpose. To the now redeemed man of Gadara, Jesus says, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you. And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”
It does not matter how far down life may have pushed you. It does not matter how other people may see you or what they think of you. The only thing that matters is the value that you hold in the eyes of your Creator, your original owner, Jesus Christ. In His eyes, you are a unique and irreplaceable treasure. Your value is so great in His eyes that He gave His life for you (Romans 5:8). Go home! He’s waiting!
(Has life pushed you down so far that you think you can never get back up? Read and be encouraged.)