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A Great Way Off Elder George Walker (dec)

Have you ever considered the language found in the 15th Chap-

ter of Luke, verse 20. And 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. But
when he was yet a great way off.

I'm made to think of a passage of scripture found in Ephesians chapter 2, verse 4; But

God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us. Can you imagine
for a moment of how far off we were when God first saw us?

This son that the father saw when he was afar off had always been a son. There had

never been a time in his life that he was not a son. Even in his disobedience he was
still a son. Have you ever noticed the love that the father had and has for the son? As
we view the story of the prodigal son we can see the grace of the father toward this
son. We can see the anticipation of the father looking for the return of his son. I can

only suppose that the father did not just look up one day and just happen to see his son
coming down that old dusty road, but this text indicates that he was looking for the
return of his son. That he would stand and look day after day after day to see if his son
was coming home.

Luk 15:20 And 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.