“When he was yet a great way off his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”—Luke 15:2020And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (Luke 15:20).
WANDERING far in sin’s dark country,
Hurrying onward to the grave;
Jesus saw thee, and from glory
Come to seek, and died to save?
He has seen, and He has followed,
All the paths of sin thou’st trod;
But He’s waiting now to save thee,
And to bring thee home to God!
He would have thee know the brightness
Of the Father’s house on high;
In that inner circle dwelling
As a son forever nigh.
This the end for which He suffered,
This the end for which He died;
Far above to have flee with Him
In His glory, glorified!
This what brought Him down from heaven.
Down in love the lost to save;
But the world—it scorned and slew Him—
Meted Him a cross and grave!
But God raised to His bright glory
(When Redemption's work was done),
Earth's rejected "Man of Sorrows,”
Heaven's Beloved and Peerless One!
And in that unclouded radiance,
Now by angel hosts adored;
In the heighest heights of glory
See Him seated—Christ the Lord!
Still His heart with yearning pity
Follows where thy footsteps roam;
Oh! that from sin's distant country
Now thy steps would turn towards home!
What a wondrous shout of gladness
Would ascend the realms of bliss!
What a deep—a speechless—"Welcome”
Would be in the Father's kiss!
Ah! that Father's heart is yearning.
Fain would tell thee out its love;
Longs to see thee home returning,
Waits to welcome thee above!
Wretched, ruined, hopeless, dying,
Come to God, and Heaven, and Home:
JESUS waits to save and bless thee,
From the Glory bids thee—"COME!”
A. S. O