LOST AND FOUND!
When my phone rang that evening, he only asked me, “Pastor, why do you still keep in touch with me? Why have you not given up on me? Why do you believe in me this much? Is there something you know that I do not know?”
I sincerely did not know how to answer. I was just interested in ensuring he does not go astray or miss the mark in life. He had abandoned the call at least twice. He had a brief stint of feeding (not pigs) fish. He told me how strange that was for him that season.
Eventually, when he returned, he said to me, “Pastor, I am sorry that I did not see you or accept you as my pastor for a long time. I thought I was just passing the time. But now, I want to say to you that ‘you are my pastor.’”
You will never beat the pathway home until there is an awareness within you. One of the revelations that must strike you at a point in life’s journey is, “There is home for me, and there is a pastor’s love or fatherly love that I have not maximized”.
It is pretty tough at times to be a pastor. I see beloved ones I pastored years back get into cities and just seem to lose it. Some got saved in Eruwa. Some got baptized in the Holy Ghost. Some got to drop strange habits and addictions but now have stopped going to church after a while, some begin to dress, exposing their privacy, and some have embraced a lifestyle that is not Christ-like. I am always broken seeing those things at times. I have cried on the phone as I spoke to one of them before. My last words were, “No matter what, remember we are always here for you. We love you. We will be praying for you”.
Beloved one, no matter how bad it is, there is the love of God and the heart of a dear pastor still longing for your return. Your space in the heart of the Lord and a sincere pastor is still there. True pastors carry people in their hearts. True fathers carry sons in their bosom. We are always on the lookout for the one that will return.
You know that pastor you met who discipled you long ago. You need to call him today and say, “I am not sure if I am even a Christian anymore. I have been in places that I am not proud of. I have done things that are not Christ-like. Fear of rejection has kept me from making this call, but I would love to be trained, disciplined, and held accountable in my spiritual walk. I can not continue like this”.
That was what the prodigal son did:
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Luke 15:20 NIV
How far have you gone from Christ?
How far have you gone from pastoral love?
I was broken when I lost a dear one who grew in the faith while with us. A strange illness suddenly returned. This beloved one died after servicing ancestral “strange gods.” Ahhh! Nothing else breaks the heart of a pastor than such reports.
What are you doing outside?
What are you doing alone?
Call home now! Come home now!!
Son! Daughter!! Come home now!!!
We still love you and believe in God’s grace in your life. Call home now.
The devil is whispering to someone, “Death is better than shame.” Do not believe that liar. Life and love are waiting for you. Come home now.
© temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa