He Will Return

When God says He will return, that is not like a conqueror returning from battle. Neither is it like a defeated warrior who goes home to regroup, planning to return to the battlefield. No, when God promises to return to us, it is a response to our returning. At least five times in the Bible, God woos us to return to Him.

This series on God’s promises started with the instance in Job 22.23. We have also considered the example in Nehemiah 1.9. That the phrase “If you return” occurs so often in scripture says one thing to me. We are wayward. The Bible says it this way, “We all like sheep have gone astray.” May the Lord help us to return to Him, because the benefits are hefty.

Here is the first instance: “Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” He returns to us with deliverance from our enemies, seen and unseen. That is huge.

If You Turn, He Will Return

In addition to the five instances of the “if you return” trigger, there is one instance of returning where God gives us a direct instruction to return. It is in Zechariah 1.3. “Therefore, say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. 

Every time you see God referred to as the Lord of Hosts, there is a battle, and God is geared up for war. And, which of us does not know about battles; battles from friends, from frenemies, from enemies, etc.? If we return to God, He will return to us and fight against all who hate us. That is enough reason to return to God so that He will return to us.  

But, there is another important thought we must take from that verse and this entire business of returning. When we turn away from God, He does not come after us. He already did that by sending Jesus to die for us. If you believe in Jesus, you are God’s child, but if you do not believe in Him, you are on your own. So, God no longer comes after us now. The Bible says that God waits to be gracious to us.

If We Return, He Will Bring Us Back

We also see that the father of the prodigal son did not go after the son. He remained at home, waiting to be kind to him. This means that whenever we stray from God, we must quickly return to Him so He will return to us. If we delay, He could stop being gracious. He said of Ephraim, “Let Ephraim alone; he has joined himself to idols. May that never be our portion. But it is not just a prayer point, it is also an action point. He will return to us if we do not stray too far or too long.

In our text from Jeremiah 15.19, God promises that He will bring us back, whether we are church members or church leaders. Why is that necessary? Why not limit it to saying He will return to us? Is God’s return to us not enough? It is, but our return from the land of satan requires help from God.

We Need Help To Take The Step 

For instance, think of the number of times you have determined to return to God, making one resolution after another each time you sin. Then consider how often you have to renew that resolution because you failed. That is the promise God is making in Jeremiah. If we return, He will return to us. But He will also aid us in the process of returning. We then shall not fail (so often).

I believe he helped the prodigal son to take the first step in returning. God assisted him to put one foot in front of the other until he reached home. There might have been several points at which shame urged him not to bother. And the devil is good at that. He tells you your sin is too big for God to forgive you. Guess what? The devil is a liar.

There is no sin that the blood of Jesus cannot cleanse. So, as He will return to us and help us to return, let us stop believing satan. Let us believe God’s promise and return quickly. Those hefty promises will start to manifest in our lives.

Maranatha!