“The Road Back to God”

In another century Wordsworth wrote: “The world is too much with us.” Today, also, the world is too much with us. Its noise and confusion, its storms and high winds, its unceasing battles and never ending conflicts are our constant companions on the journey of life. During the solemn season of Lent, we are called away from the world and to do as our Lord Jesus did when the world was too much with Him. Always He turned aside for a few brief moments of blessed communion with His Father in heaven.

In keeping with this thought, the general theme for our 2008 Lenten Worship will be: “The Road Back to God.” The choice of this theme springs from a deep and overwhelming sense of personal need. The civilization in which we live and move and have our being is the most complex the world has ever known. Its pace is the pace that kills. We, the men and women of a new century, the children of this strange age, have our way to make in this new world. We must make a living. We want to build homes and firesides where we may enjoy the deep and lasting pleasures of love and companionship. We must lay aside some money for the day when we have crossed the hilltops of life and the shadows of sunset are no longer lost in the distance. All this keeps us tremendously busy. The bitter pressure of time and circumstance threatens to make us forgetful Marthas. (Luke 10 38-42) We move so fast that we scarcely have time for quiet thought. There is no time to pause for a moment and measure our distance from our goal. There is no time for those God-given and strength-giving moments when the world with all its roar and confusion falls away from us and we are once more alone with Him who is even today calling over the stormy and troubled waters of life: “Fear not, I have redeemed you … you are Mine.” (Isaiah 43:1b)

The roads where we go astray are many. All of us are in some way deeply interested in the church and its work. But even here, we may become so busy, so occupied with the petty things demanded by our organizational life, so immersed in the routine of church work that our hearts may stray from the living God. Especially today we may forget that the secret of a life of faith, a life of consecrated power, a life of Christian happiness lies in walking close to Him who has loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.

The roads where we go astray are many. Is it not time for us to look upon “The Road Back to God”? It is the road of faith in Jesus, the road of Christian love and happiness and courage. It is the road which will lead us out into the world with a new vision, a great power and a more sublime faith in Him who asks for our hearts. It does not matter what our problems have been or may be now. It does not matter how dark and forbidding the veil of the future looms before us. It does not matter how far we may have strayed from Him who still stands and waits for us. Through the loneliness of the heart and the fear of life His voice comes again: “Come home!” The power of the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and by His indwelling present we are enabled to find “The Road Back to God.” We can follow the Master's leading, not fanatically or morbidly, but quietly and happily. We can walk in the glad consciousness that His will is always good. In the doing of it there is great reward.

“The Road Back to God!” May we find it during our Lenten Journey each Wednesday where the world is no longer with us and where we may hear His pleading voice in the still watches of the night. If in the days and years that lie before us we will but walk the road to God, all night will be gone, the dawn will break and the black shadows which may fall upon life will be glorified by the brightness of His presence. This is His golden promise. It is true forever.

Plan to set time aside and join fellow travelers on “The Road Back to God” each Wednesday starting February 6th at 7:00 p.m.