May 17, 2016 (Tuesday)
In “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy learns that she can get back to her Kansas home simply by clicking her heels together and saying, “There’s no place like home.”
Many people think that sentence originated with Judy Garland, but the truth is that the line came from a very popular song already well known to people at the time. Title of the song is, “Home, Sweet Home.” It was originally sung in an opera in 1827, 112 years before Judy said it with Toto looking on.
During the Civil War, the song was banned in Union camps because it tugged at the heart’s strings so strongly that the government feared it might incite soldiers to desert the army and go back home.
Question: Who taught us that being saved is like going home? If there is any doubt about 
that for you, just look it up in Luke 15 in the Bible. In that chapter, Jesus talks about a young man who rebelled against his father, left home, but later asked forgiveness. In the story, the young man, having exhausted all paths to happiness in a foreign land, resolves to go back home and ask his father to hire him as a lowly servant in that wealthy household. But when he returns to his father, he finds a warm welcome and full acceptance. Jesus made it clear that God is like that father, and welcomes home every person who repents and seeks forgiveness.
We have several hymns that feature “home” as finding forgiveness in Christ and a sense of belonging in the family of God. I love every one of those songs and they always touch my heart when I hear them.
It is a pity that so many people still think of God as a harsh judge, ready to condemn, whose people are insecure and judgmental hypocrites who dislike those who are struggling with their sins. The awesome fact is that Jesus offers us complete forgiveness and total acceptance, giving us joy, peace and love in our hearts, teaching us patience, kindness and goodness in our daily lives, and leading us to be faithful. gentle people who have become happy through self-control.
“Come home, come home, ye who are weary, come home. Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling “Oh, sinner, come home.”