Being Far Away

 

The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is incurable; who can know it? I, Jehovah, search the heart.

And I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give to you a heart of flesh.

And He said, A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to the father, Father give me that part of the property falling to me. And he divided the living to them. And not many days after, gathering up all things, the younger son went abroad to a distant country. And there he squandered his property, living dissolutely. But having spent all his things, a severe famine occurred throughout that country, and he began to be in need. And going, he was joined to one of the citizens of that country. And he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he longed to fill his stomach from the husks which the pigs ate, and no one gave to him…

 

The hand of Jehovah was on me. And He brought me by the Spirit of Jehovah and made me rest in the midst of a valley, and it was full of bones. And He made me pass among them round about. And, behold, very many were on the face of the valley. And, behold, they were very dry. And He said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I said, O Lord Jehovah You know. And He said to me, Prophesy to these bones and say to them, O dry bones, hear the Word of Jehovah: So says the Lord Jehovah to these bones, Behold, I will cause breath to go into you, and you shall live, and I will put on you sinews and will bring flesh on you and spread skin over you and put breath in you, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am Jehovah. So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a noise. And, behold, a shaking! And the bones drew near, a bone to its bone. And I saw. And, behold! The sinews and the flesh came up on them, and the skin spread over them from above, but there was no breath in them. And He said to me, Prophesy to the Spirit. Prophesy, son of man, and say to the Spirit, So says the Lord Jehovah, Come from the four winds, O Spirit, and breathe on ones that were slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the Spirit came into them. And they lived and stood on their feet, a very, very great army.

 

…But coming to himself he said, How many servants of my father abound in bread, and I am perishing with famine. Rising up, I will go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I sinned against Heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants. And rising up, he came to his father. But he yet being far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you, and no longer am I worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his slaves, Bring out the best robe and clothe him, and give a ring to his hand and sandals to his feet. And bring the fattened calf, slaughter and let us eat and be merry; for this son of mine was dead, and lived again, and was lost, and was found. And they began to be merry.

 

 

From Jeremiah 17:9-10; Ezekiel 36:26 and 37:1-10; and Luke 15:11-24 (KJ3 Literal Translation Version Bible)

 

 

By DREW VENTURA

Drew Ventura is the only person responsible (fortunately) for permanencescience.com. He is a creative writer.