Return: Galatians 4:8-11
God is always ready to welcome us back home with Him. Although it isn’t the verses for today, I am reminded of the story of the Prodigal Son, whose father ran to meet him when he returned from his pursuit of the world. I am also reminded of Jesus as He tells Peter to forgive seventy time seven times. We are not perfect, but God demonstrates great capacity to forgive.
In today’s verses, Paul reminds us about our human nature. Before we knew God, we considered only ourselves. We did what we wanted. We pursued our own goals. We chased after joy only to find worldly joy is short-lived.
As human beings, we frequently encounter the Law of Diminishing Returns. This states that the more of something we have, or perhaps the more frequently we encounter something that brings us joy, the less joy it brings. For example, suppose I love chocolate cake. If I eat chocolate cake every meal for a week, I may enjoy the first piece or two. By the end of the week, though, the cake no longer brings joy. I may find myself wishing I didn’t have to eat the cake at all!
We are powerless against this reality. When something no longer satisfies us, we move onto something else only to find the Law of Diminishing Returns at work again. We cycle through things that bring us less and less joy.
At some point, we find God. In God, we find purpose outside ourselves. Fulfillment comes when He calls us to join Him in His work. We discover joy in serving other people and considering their needs ahead of our own. In God, we find an identity we could never discover without Him.
Unfortunately, the world grabs our attention. The world pulls us back under its influence. Although our identity is in God, we still find ourselves falling back to the world. God satisfies us more deeply than anything else; that doesn’t prevent the world from snatching our attention.
There are a couple reasons why this happens. Our nature is corrupt and we may not be able to resist in the moment until the Spirit reminds us to return to God. Furthermore, the ways of the world may feel more familiar to us. Our sinful patterns often feel more comfortable than forging a new path with God. We often look for easy path. Following God and living according to His ways takes work; following the world and living up to its standard is far easier.
Paul reminds us about our nature; he also reminds us to return to God. This is the greatness of God. He calls us to Him. He knows we will fall back into our old ways despite our desire to be with Him. Our hearts may desire Him, but we are tempted by the world. He knows this about us and He is willing to forgive. God is always ready to welcome us back home with Him.
