"Far From Home"

Far From Home

I was compelled to write this sermon, based 2 separate comments, from 2 separate people.

Prayer request at Friday night Bible study:
“I want to prayer for the people who think they are so far away from God, that they can’t get back.”

Comment from my blog:
“Bible Study is a blessing, isn't it? What a great time to sit around with other people who are as equally un-perfect as you, learning about our un-perfect Bible "heroes" and how they endeavored to overcome their struggles with the various sins that they committed. It is a blessing to know that, since God loved THEM, he can love US too. Equal blessing, to realize that it is never God who puts space between us and Him, but rather US who drift. It is comforting to know that He is always there beside us no matter HOW far away from Him we think we are.”

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Luke 15:4-7;
4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!"

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From the book – The Pioneers of Canaan; by Marie Bishop.

“Richard Tetzlaff was born at Klein Porske, in the Russian Ukraine in 1889 and died December 31, 1988, in Canaan, NS. Richard’s ancestors had been among the first skilled Germans imported to Russia by Catherine the Great. They had enjoyed the fruits of German citizenship, including freedom of religion, work and travel. However, the Russians soon demanded loyalty, and the Tetzlaff family, along with others, left the country. The family settled in Lotz, Poland.

Since German citizens were expected to serve 3 years in the military, Richard joined the Prussian Army. Following his Army stint, he returned to Poland, became a skilled haberdasher, and married Melletta. Their son Arthur Max, was born in 1913.

The outbreak of World War I again took Richard from his home and loved ones. He and other German loyalists were rounded up by the Russian authorities and sent to Siberia, where they had to fend for themselves. Following the fall of the Russian monarchy in 1917, Richard was taken prisoner by a retreating White Army. Four months later, the officers, fearing for their lives, disbanded leaving soldiers and prisoners behind. After being helped by Siberian natives and getting their strength back, Richard and a companion decided to walk from their location near the Sea of Japan to Moscow. Following railroad tracks, seeking shelter from raging blizzards, stumbling over the frozen remains of Russian soldiers, the trip was a nightmare of struggle for survival. When they reached Moscow, the International Red Cross helped them. When he reached home the trip had taken nearly 2 years and he was in poor health.

In the 1920’s Richard moved his family to Germany…Richard, Melletta and Max came to Canada in 1931, buying a 350-acre farm in Canaan.”

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Richard Tetzlaff traveled clear across the Continent of Asia, on his way back home to Moscow, Russia. He traveled between 4 and 5000 miles (maybe more). He faced many hardship, he faced many dangers and at times he must have felt completely and utterly alone; for he was far, ‘far from home.’

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Often Christians can feel the very same way. We feel so far away from God, that we think we can’t ever get back. And there are times we think that God doesn’t even want us back, or we don’t want to go back. We’d sooner live our lives in isolation.

Let me tell you this, that isolation is created by you, and not by God. God knows that we are sinful and that sometimes we fail and fall. But it is God’s mercy and grace that restores us to a right relationship with Him. He doesn’t push you away, you push Him away. He is always ready to forgive you.

In Isaiah 1:4-7 says;
“Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick. You are battered from head to foot—covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds—without any soothing ointments or bandages.

Your country lies in ruins, and your towns are burned. Foreigners plunder your fields before your eyes and destroy everything they see.”

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As long as the people of Judah continued to sin, they cut themselves off from God’s help, and they isolated themselves.

Just as Mr. Tetzlaff, hid, creep, and secretly traveled his way back home to Moscow; keeping out of the sight of Russian armies and their allies, we too, when separated from God, hid and don’t want anyone else to know. We isolate ourselves from family and friends, and from God’s saving grace.
Richard Tetzlaff, was on his own, he never asked anything of anybody; he faced his ordeal absolutely alone.

When you feel lonely and separated from God, remember that God does not abandon you. Our own actions and sins, cut us off from Him – He doesn’t cut us off. The only sure cure of this kind of loneliness is to restore a meaningful relationship with God, by confessing your sins, obeying His instructions (reading the Bible), and communicating regularly with Him through prayer.

Later in Isaiah 1:16-19, we hear God’s instructions;
“Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me,
you will have plenty to eat.”

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You don’t have to go through life, permanently soiled and stained with the mark of sin. Those stains, seems virtually impossible for us to erase. But, God can remove sin’s mark from our life; the same as He had promised to do for the Israelites – He can and will do for you.

God’s word assures us that if we are willing and obedient, He will forgive us and remove our most indelible satins – and we never have to travel secretly and in seclusion, like Mr. Tetzlaff did on his journey back home.

To whom can the poor, the lowly, the hungry, the thirsty, the persecuted, the hurting, the suffering, and all those lost and so far away from home – to whom can all these people turn to in their time of need? Is there no one, now, that there is this great separation and divide - is there anyone? In your separation, are you lost forever?

NO, you are not! There is still hope, for there is always someone on your side. You may look and see only division of time, place and deed. But, God sees something else, and offers common ground, a firm foundation and comfort.

The Lord had always been standing right beside you, but you have not seen Him. No matter what the situation is, has been, or will be, the Lord is always present.

In Psalm 140; David assures us of this;
“But, I know the Lord will surely help those who are persecuted; He will maintain the rights of the poor. Surely the godly are praising His name, for they will live in His presence.”

Even though you may feel separated from God, and ‘far from home,’ He helps the godly (you), and you can live in His presence always.

In the Psalm of David, 51;
We hear David finally admitting his wrongdoings. Among other things, he has committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. David is so far away from God at this point, that he must think he can never get back. But, he confesses his sins to God and asks for forgiveness. David recognizes his shameful deeds, he acknowledges he is a sinner, and knows he has done evil in the Lord’s sight. He admits, he confesses, he repents, and he asks to be forgiven.

And David asks the Lord, specifically;
Blot out the stain of my sins,
Wash me clean from my guilt,
Purify me from within,
Give me back my joy again,
Don’t keep looking at my sins,
Create in me a clean heart,
Renew a right spirit within me,
Do not banish me from your presence,
Don’t take your spirit from me,
Restore to me again, the joy of your salvation,
Make me willing, to obey you,
And, now, let me rejoice.

No sin is too great for God to forgive, and you are never too far from home. Each and every journey, begins with one single step. Mr. Tetzlaff’s journey, back home, 5000 miles and two years later, began with one single step. Your journey back home, will begin with one single step – fall to your knees and pray for forgiveness.

God says; “Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you..”

Sin does not separate you from God, failure to confess and repent of your sins does.

When you are faced with crushing troubles, staggering struggles, and powerful pain, you can have faith that God is close by and ready, willing, and able, to help. You are never that ‘far from home,’ that God won’t ever want you back.

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Let’s listen to the words of this song:
(Thief of Always Lyrics, by Jaci Velasquez)

“Before the winter chill has gone
The springtime rivers rise
Before the setting sun has disappeared
The moon is rising high

And time waits for no man
Seasons come and go
In the midst of an ever-changing world
This one thing I know

You've got to live every moment
As though it was your last
Before the thief of always
Steals tomorrow from your grasp
Before the chance to know His love
Has somehow passed you by
Let your heart reach out
Right here, right now
For the Lord to touch your life

Before the trees have shed
Their autumn gold
To leave the barest bark
The frost beneath our feet
Will sparkle bright
Like crystals under the sky

And time waits for no man
Seasons come and go
In the midst of an ever-changing world
This one thing I know

You've got to live every moment
As though it was your last
Before the thief of always
Steals tomorrow from your grasp
Before the chance to know His love
Has somehow passed you by
Let your heart reach out
Right here, right now
For the Lord to touch your life

Don't ever doubt that God
Can lift us high
Allow the flame of Heaven
To be our guide

You've got to live every moment
As though it was your last
Before the thief of always
Steals tomorrow from your grasp
Before the chance to know His love
Has somehow passed you by
Let your heart reach out
Right here, right now
For the Lord to touch your life”

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Let me remind you of what Jesus says about lost sheep;

Luke 15:4-7
4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!"

We are nothing, but lost sheep, and God urges us to live every moment, in Christ, as if it were our last. Some who are lost will never again know the love of God, for they will never cry out to Him.

God’s love for each of you is so great, that He is constantly searching, when you wander off the path. He seeks out each one and rejoices when you are found. God sent Jesus to earth, to find the lost, those considered beyond hope, and those who feel they are so far away from God, that they can’t get back.

God tenderly searches for the lost sinners of this world, and joyfully forgives them, with an extraordinary love. He is concerned for every human being He has ever created.

Matthew 18:14 says; “In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will, that even one of these little ones should perish.”

It is that extraordinary love that God has for you. If you feel far from God, don’t despair; make yourself known, cry for help, reach out to God, let Him know where you are; for He is search for you, and He knows you’re “far from home.”

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Let us pray;

Dear God,
We do get lost along the path to you and your glory. We are walking in the wilderness and at times we are so afraid. We are afraid that you will punish us for what we have done. We are afraid you may not want us back. We are afraid of the unknown and we do not understand.

Please God, come find us. Amen.