Take Me Back!

“All that glitters is not gold.” And as I sit here and think of the parallels of Pinocchio and the Prodigal Son I can’t help but think how many of God’s children have been or are being led astray? How many to the slaughter because the enemy has so cleverly disguised the World to look so much greener on the other side? If only we could see. To be constantly reminded by a conscious the size of a cricket yelling, “Jiminy!”.

Yes, how truly child like we are and yet how many of us are even aware that we do indeed have an enemy? The Fox who’s always waiting, looking for an opportunity. Who baits the hook, who knows our weaknesses yet packages it to make it look so appealing. “Just one bite,” he says and if we do fall prey he laughs now holding the key like Stromboli.

And once in a cage do we then cry out and turn to God? And if so and by God’s grace He sets us free – once again here comes the enemy. Looking for the seed that falls and does not take root. Once again here comes the enemy – flashing hook. “The world is a party!” he says but his only goal is slavery, laughing as he longs to make an ass out of those who stray with wayward hearts.

And if by God’s grace we should escape do we then learn the lesson? Now bearing the scars the world has inflicted on us will we then change? All the while we’ve been gone our Heavenly Father looking, searching for us, longing for our return. He yells into the night, “Pinocchio! Pinocchio!” When with tail between our legs so humbly we should find Him in the darkest place. For God has searched the depths of our sin, Monstro, and it’s here He waits.

For with God nothing is hidden and yet if we, the backslidden should find Him once again into His arms we would fall, His kiss upon our wooden necks and then we would cry, “Father, Take me back! Take me back!” and God in all of His infinite Love would say, “oh why, why did you ever leave Me in the first place?”

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules (Ezekial 36: 26-27).

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler[a]
And from the perilous pestilence.
He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.” (Psalm 91)

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed (John 8:31-36).