“But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20, NKJV).
If God were to run a marathon, we would be the finish line. The focus of His heart, the desire of His life is communion with His children. There is no greater joy than when a lost son or daughter comes home. It is a desire captured in the chapters of Luke 14 and 15. A desire expressed when He says, “sit down at the lowest place” (Luke 14:10), and “invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind” (Luke 14:13).
Our God is not concerned with appearances. There is no pretense in His heart. He is the God who washes feet. The God who comes as a slave. The God who takes the lowest place that we might be lifted up.
The words of this song sung by Philips, Craig, and Dean capture His heart:
When God Ran
Benny Hester, John Parenti
Almighty God, the great I am
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings
Mighty conqueror, and the only time
The only time I ever saw Him run
CHORUS:
Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son, do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise, when God ran
The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
Then one night I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road ahead I could see
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run
And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son, do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise as He brought me to my knees
When God ran – I saw Him run to me
BRIDGE:
I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day
I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again
He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”, He called me Son
He said, “Son, do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me and then I ran to Him
When God ran
