Homecoming can be so exciting and I am going to share with you an anecdote about a girl named Ryan whose life journey may actually be describing some of my own experiences, some of your own experiences, or someone you know.

There was once a girl named Ryan who was part of the bold and beautiful sorority. She had everything going for her when she entered college. She had transferred from Santa Barbara to study philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh. Settling at Pitt was not easy for her. She missed the good old days. She belonged to a band called 'Young and the Restless'. She was always restless with personal issues taking a toll on her. Ryan would always search for tomorrow hoping it would be better than the present day she was facing. One day she heard a women praying, "Lord, I want all my children to come to know your love and the grace you offer amidst the problems in this world, for you are my Lord and personal Savior and can be my children's Lord and personal Savior! Please save my children. All generations need you Lord! You will have the best homecoming for us. Thank you Jesus!"

After hearing the woman, Ryan's hope of a fun and exciting life does not have to end in misery but can end in everlasting joy and abundant life just as the woman felt. As students on university and college campuses, she knew she faced another world compared to high school or the work force. She knew this world can be hard on all of us. There could be continuous pressure from parents or guardians to excel in studies and pressure from friends to conform to their standards more than in high school.

Ryan also knew, as the world turns, we are left in a dilemma that could produce suffering or joy. It does not matter even if our home is in Port Charles. Many times we choose the wrong choices and suffer the consequences because our passions are in the wrong direction. Some consequences are tragic that lead to death as we have only one life to live. Some consequences take us to the general hospital whether we are dealing with a pregnancy, overdose of drugs, alcohol intoxication, or various types of sicknesses from depression to suicidal tendencies, etc bringing us to the edge of night.

Is there more to life than this, Ryan thought?

Ryan, knew the answer had to be yes as she thought about what the woman prayed. She wanted to know more about Jesus and the homecoming Jesus offered. So, she went and found the woman to talk to her. The woman sat her down and explained to her that there is only one true Homecoming and it starts with Jesus Christ. She told Ryan about Jesus Christ and how only Jesus Christ can be her Guiding Light on Pitt's campus or anywhere she is at.

The woman shared with Ryan about what Jesus Christ did for her and how much Jesus loves her because He is soo loving. She showed Ryan verses from the Gospel of John especially John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life". After talking awhile, she prayed with Ryan who accepted Jesus Christ into her heart and surrendered her life over to Christ. The woman not only gave her the Gospel of John to read everyday but also 'My Heart Christ's Home' by Robert Munger.

As the days went by whether she visited the Capitol, Dallas or stayed in the city of Pittsburgh, her life was being transformed by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, she wanted to share her new found joy with all her other classmates and people she came across because she found the Guiding Light! Even during spring break she would decide to go to Sunset Beach to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others that they may come to know what Jesus did for them at the Cross of Calvary to deliver them from the bondage of sin and death. She would remind them that Jesus' cleansing precious Blood is the only antidote to cleanse us of the sin virus that has plagued the world. She wanted everyone there to take the free antidote Jesus was offering as a free gift of grace so they can be made  righteous before a Holy God. This way when they die a physical death, they would still have a Homecoming because they will be spiritually alive in Christ being with Him. She did not want anyone to go to Hell because a Holy God cannot allow sin into His presence. She reminded everyone that those who call upon the Name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10) and there is Salvation in no one else! Under all of Heaven, there is no other Name for men to call upon to save them except the Name of Jesus. (Acts 4:12)

Friend, amidst the Coronavirus that has plagued many parts of the world, people are dying left and right as the world turns. People's sense of normalcy has shattered too. The Bible says, 'It is appointed for man to die once and then the judgment' (Hebrews)

There is no reason to fear death if we know where we are going.

Do you know where you are going, if you die?

Do you believe you are a good person and your good works will save you?

What Ryan learned, I learned that there is no one good, not one, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Into this situation, Christ who had no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) It is by grace you have been saved and not of any good works so no man can boast. (Ephesians 2:8)

This is exciting to know!  Let us not take it lightly but yield our lives to the Savior. Ryan's hope became Jesus Christ and that same hope can be for you too. There is hope in Jesus Christ for each one of you no matter where you are in your life right now.  All the days of our lives we can turn to God who loves us so much and has a wonderful plan for us. Yes, we can!

Remember the ABC's: Acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a Savior who alone can take the virus of sin from you. Believe in your heart that Jesus alone can save you and be your Savior as He was raised from the dead after being crucified for you and me. Confess Jesus as the Lord of your life yielding to Him. No matter what virus plagues the world, it is nothing in comparison to what sin does. Ryan's hope is in Jesus and our hope can be in Jesus too!

Some of Ryan's story describes me actually and other parts of it describes others. It maybe describing you too. No matter what you are going through remember that God has promises for you and these promises are for your uplifting.

"I know the plans, I have for you says the Lord, they are plans for good and not for evil to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11)

That's God's plan for you my friend! God loves you so much that He sent Jesus Christ to give you hope.

Jesus says, "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with Him and he with me" (Revelations 3:20)

Jesus wants to be your Guiding Light. He wants to guide you throughout your life and give you peace of mind and heart just as Ryan received it and became a sister, fellow worker, and fellow soldier for the Lord.

Maybe you say that none of this vignette describes you and your life is all peachy and going well. Lest you fall, be careful because it is usually those that think they have it all together that come crumbling down due to pride and other vices. Take it from me because it happened to me.

Yet, I thank Jesus so much for coming for the sick and not for those who think they have it all together. I had issues like Ryan and did not have it all together and sadly, I have not always wanted Jesus to be part of every facet of my life.

Instead, I would compartmentalize my life which areas I wanted Jesus to be involved in and which areas I did not want Jesus to be involved in.  But, through it all, Jesus has prepared a Homecoming for me waiting for my return as the story of the prodigal Son illustrates. I am so glad Jesus did not abandon me in my own sin but wants to be part of my life and when I hand over all the title deeds to every facet of my life to Jesus, He will manage it the best way more than I can ever imagine. My homecoming with Jesus will always be the best. Praise the Lord!

What better place to be than in the arms of love of our Savior! He will hold us near and hold us still! For that I am excited! My homecoming started the day, I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ surrendering myself over to Jesus. Though there have been detours because of my sinful ways, Jesus has always put me back on the right track! Thank you Jesus! Jesus restored me in my guilt, shame, etc washing me in His precious blood to give me Eternal life. Thank you Jesus! I found my homecoming in Jesus and so can you.

I ask you now dear friends, when will your H.O.M.E.C.O.M.I.N.G begin?
Dear friends, Epaphroditus' homecoming began when he gave his life to Christ and also after he served the Apostle Paul for awhile as his brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier in the Lord. You maybe able to say that your homecoming began on so and so date or you may not even be able to say that you have a homecoming around the horizon. I don't know where you are in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ but this I do know for sure that your homecoming is something that will make Jesus so happy because He who created you wants you to be part of His glorious Kingdom. It started with Jesus who prepared for your Homecoming. The preparation was done with His precious cleansing blood on the cross of Calvary so you can have magnificent entrance into Heaven when you turn your life over to Christ. You can do that friend no matter where you have been or what you have done.

It will be more spectacular than any school’s Homecoming for you will be Homecoming to the One who loves you so much that He died for you and came back to life to save you!  That is exciting to know!

Don’t let the enemy deceive you and lie to you making you think that you will not be accepted. For the Lord Jesus will take you in and you can receive His abundant blessings His ways and peace His way as you confess and repent of your sins and ask for His help to guide you and lead you!

I am not talking about a prosperity Gospel but the life-saving, life- changing Gospel of Jesus Christ whose promises we can claim. In Jesus Christ, you can have a “Homecoming to find the Light of the World” 

I do not know about you but I need Jesus to be my Guiding Light to show me the way through life. I hope you join me in having Jesus become part of your life daily so He can transform you by His grace.

Jesus says, "I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart, and the peace I give is not like the peace the world gives, don't be troubled or afraid" (Read John 14)

Jesus loves you so much and will accept you just as you are. You do not have to prove yourself for Christ to love you. You are important to Christ just the way you are. If you are having difficulty in any area of your life, give it to the Lord and leave it in His hands to take care of it. His hands are Helping Hands and He will help you.

If you are enjoying your life and think you don't need the Lord, remember He wants you to be His son or daughter because He loves you so much. Jesus died and came back to life to save each one of us and to give us a life of hope, love, and faith. The greatest of these is love. May you experience healer offers magnificent emancipation coming over, multiplying nurturing guidance!

"Healer Offers Messiah's Emancipation Coming Over, Multiplying Inspirational, Nurturing Guidance!" (H.O.M.E.C.O.M.I.N.G)/"When will your H.O.M.E.C.O.M.I.N.G begin?"

PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, I have heard that you love me so much just the way I am. I want you to be the Lord of my life. There are so many things that are happening in my life right now and I need you to intervene to help me out. I am so sorry for my sins. I confess my sins to you Lord and repent of them. Please be in control of my life and be my Guiding Light. Thank you so much Jesus. Please forgive me of my sins and help me. Thanks for forgiving me of my sins. I come now and acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior who will be my Light for eternity as I come home and find you as my Light of the World. Thanks Lord, I do not have to be alone but you are with me. I give my life to you Lord because you want to show me the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Please come into my heart and make my heart your home. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home! Thanks for living in me Lord and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thanks again for this new life and all my sins are forgiven and I am washed clean. Thank you for dying for me and coming back to life to save me. Thanks for hearing me and answering me. You are my Heavenly Father and have given me the best homecoming as you are ready to take me in your arms of love. Thank you I need not go by feelings but on your promises! I claim your promises Lord! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!