In the year 1892, William J. Kirkpatrick published a hymn entitled, “Lord, I’m Coming Home.” The song consists of only four short verses and one tiny chorus. However, the message of the song is profound and of timeless importance. The song depicts a wandering child of God grappling with the decision to come back home after many years of navigating the paths of sins. This hymn addresses subjects such as disgust for sin, the tragedy of being lost, the important choice to repent, and the open arms of the Father waiting to restore an erring child. The song closes with the powerful declaration, “Coming home, I’m coming home, and nevermore to roam!” What a remarkable concept! A child of God can fall away and spend many years living in sin, but if they choose to sincerely repent, they can be restored to walk with the Lord forever! What lessons can be derived from this song? What does this song teach us relative to apostasy, repentance, and restoration?

First, this song teaches the possibility of apostasy. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word “apostasy” with two meanings: 1) “renunciation of a religious faith,” and 2) “abandonment of a previous loyalty.” The word is derived from the Middle English apostasie, the Late Latin “apostasia,” and the Greek “aphistasthai,” meaning literally “to revolt.” Perhaps this was the picture intended by William J. Kirkpatrick when he penned this hymn. The song begins with the statement, “I’ve wandered far away from God, now I’m coming home; the paths of sin too long I’ve trod, Lord, I’m coming home.” The character in this song has abandoned his loyalty to God, renounced his allegiance with Him, and revolted against His divine will. The possibility of apostasy has become a reality in this person’s life.

The Bible also clearly speaks of the possibility of apostasy. Many in the religious world still believe in the Calvinistic doctrine of “once saved always saved.” However, the Bible says a “righteous man” can “turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity” and ultimately “die in his sin” (Ezekiel 3:20). Paul warned his Galatian audience, who were “the sons of God” (Galatians 3:26-27), to repent lest they are ultimately “fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). The Hebrew writer pleaded with his recipients to “take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12). He further wrote about those who are saved backsliding to the point where they “fall away” and “crucify unto themselves the Son of God afresh” (Hebrews 6:4-6). Peter painted a graphic picture of apostasy when he depicted erring Christians as a dog returning to its own vomit and a clean pig returning to the filthy mire (2 Peter 2:20-22). Paul stated a Christian can be “overtaken in a fault” and need to be restored (Galatians 6:1-2). James said a Christian can “err from the faith” and need to be saved from death again (James 5:19-20). There is a real possibility of apostasy in the life of every child of God, and in the tragic case of some Christians, this possibility has become a reality.

Second, this song teaches the possibility of restoration. s the character of this hymn struggles with their unfaithfulness, they soon realize they have “wasted many precious years” and they are “tired of sin and straying” (verse 2, and 3). They choose to “repent with bitter tears” and “trust Thy will, obey Thy word” (verse 2, and 3). Even though they have been gone from the Lord for many years, they have not gone too far to repent. They are joyously restored back to the fold of God, and they now commit themselves to living for the Master the remainder of their days. This is a beautiful picture of the possibility of restoration!

Thankfully, the Bible frequently reminds us of the possibility of restoration. When a person wanders away from the Lord, God has a second law of pardon in place. To be restored, they must bring God a penitent and broken heart, humbly seek divine forgiveness, and bear the fruits of repentance in their changed life. Peter told Simon, who was an erring Christian, to “repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). Beyond this passage, texts like Luke 15 offer great assurance relative to the prospect of restoration. The prodigal son “took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living” (Luke 15:13). However, he soon found himself in the hog pen of sin, and he realized it was far better in the father’s house. Therefore, “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). The son brought home a broken and contrite heart, and the father welcomed him home in full restoration. You may be tired of sin also! You may be fed up with straying from the Lord! Why not come home and allow the gracious God to receive you into His house again? As long as there is breath in your lungs, time left here on Earth, and a desire to change in your heart, there is the possibility of restoration!