View source for No matter how far we have wandered!',

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    <em>&quot;But while he was still a long way off</em> — his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him!&quot; Luke 15:20 <br />
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    The boy had, in the far-away country, a <em>vision of his old home</em>. As he sat there and thought of his dishonour and his ruin — a picture flashed before him, which made him very home-sick. The vision brought back the old home in all its beauty and blessedness. There was <em>plenty</em> there — while here in the far country, the once happy favoured son, was perishing with hunger!<br />
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    It was a blessed moment for the debauched prodigal. It was God's message to him, inviting him to <em>return home</em>. <br />
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    When a child is stolen away from a lovely and tender household, it may be kept among wandering gypsies or savage Indians even to old age — but there are always broken fragments of sweet memories which hang over the soul like trailing clouds in the sky — dim, shadowy memories of something very lovely, very pure — reminiscences of that long-lost, long-forgotten past, when the child lay on the mother's arms, and was surrounded by beauty and tenderness. <br />
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    Just so, there is something in the heart of every one who has wandered from God — which ever floats about him, even in sin's revels — a fair, dreamy vision, dim and far away perhaps — but as splendid as the drapery of the sunset. It is the memory of lost innocence, of the Father's love, the vision of a heavenly beauty — which is possible of restoration to the worst and most debauched.<br />
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    When the prodigal reached home — he found his vision realized. His father was <em>watching </em>for him — had <em>long </em>been watching for him. It is a picture of the heavenly Father's loving welcome of every lost child of His, who comes back home. Thus He receives the worst — who penitently return. Our sweetest dreams of God's love, are a thousand times too poor and dim — when compared to the reality. A<em> great way off </em>God sees the returning prodigal — and runs to meet him. <strong>No matter how far we have wandered</strong>, there is a welcome waiting for us at home!