A Great Way Off by American Messenger

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 28, 1857

"A Great Way Off."

By American Messenger

"And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him."

Our heavenly Father is a great deal more ready to receive us than we are to come to him. We are apt to fancy that it will be very difficult to make our way to him, and to get ourselves accepted by him, after we have made up our minds to try it. We are apt to think that our hearts must become very pure, and our faith very strong, before he will kindly regard us. But no, he sees us when we are yet "a great way off," and he pities us; and the moment he sees us from never so far off, beginning to return to him, that instant he is with us, ready to embrace us.

We must be careful not to confound two very distinct things. In order to be worthy of God's approbation, our hearts must be perfectly pure; but in order to have his pity and his redeeming grace, we have only to be willing to confess our impurity and to desire to be delivered from it in his revealed way.

Does your heart turn to him—feebly, yet sincerely? Are you ready to forsake all the vain objects for the love of which you have gone from him? Do you wish to return to him? Are you willing to be his servant, feeling yourself unworthy to be called his child?

Then be assured, you have not a long journey to go, in order to come to him, toiling your weary way in rags, and in hunger, and in sorrow. O no, he has seen you from afar, and lo, here he is, looking on you with all a Father's tenderness, and ready to have you speedily dressed in the best robe of his children—and put a ring on your hand the sure token of his affection, and shoes on your feet, in proof of his tender care.

O how glad I am that I have not that long journey to take alone! My Father has met me at the very outset, and his arms will uphold me to the end. And how glad I am that I have not one fellow-creature so guilty, nor one so weak, whom I may not assure of the same kind and hearty welcome to the arms of our heavenly Father.—Am. Mes.