Wanderlust. It was my “Word of the Day.” It came with a definition: strong longing for or impulse toward wandering.
Someone who loves to travel once asked me years ago if I wanted to travel after I retired. This person loved to travel, spending months on the road in an RV, towing a little car behind it. I said, nope. I have no desire to spend months away from home. I guess I’m just a homebody … and that has not changed since I have retired.
Yet, I must admit there is a wanderlust in all of us. In me, also. We have all “wandered” away from God, or as Paul says in Romans, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” [1:23 NKJV]
Adam wandered away from God in the Garden and all of mankind has since inherited his lifestyle. But as God did with Adam, He comes calling us back, calling us to abandon our wandering and return to Him.
In addition, once we have given up our wanderlust, James reminds us we have a duty to help others. “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” [James 5:19-20 NIV]
Father, keep us from our wanderlust. Help us to abide with all joy and delight in you. Enable us to help those who have wandered away. Amen and Amen.
