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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.
Refrain:
Coming home, coming home,
Nevermore to roam;
Open wide Thine arms of love:
Lord, I'm coming home.
I've wasted many precious years:
Now I'm coming home;
I now repent with bitter tears:
Lord, I'm coming home.
I'm tired of sin and straying, Lord:
Now I'm coming home;
I'll trust Thy love, believe Thy Word;
Lord, I'm coming home.
My soul is sick, my heart is sore:
Now I'm coming home;
My strength renew, my hope restore:
Lord, I'm coming home.
My only hope, my only plea:
Now I'm coming home;
That Jesus died, and died for me:
Lord, I'm coming home.
I need His cleansing blood, I know:
Now I'm coming home;
O wash me whiter than the snow:
Lord, I'm coming home.
Story:
William J. Kirkpatrick was born in 1838. This an was not only a
marvellous lyricist, but his musical settings for poems written by
others have afforded us such favourites as "Jesus Saves" and '"Tis So
Sweet To Trust In Jesus."
Kirkpatrick was a Methodist choir director and organist, and he
especially loved the Methodist camp meetings. During one such meeting,
at which he directed the music, he became quite burdened because the
invited soloist would sing and then immediately leave, without hearing
the sermon or staying to fellowship with other Christians.
After a couple of days of this, Kirkpatrick prayed fervently that God
would somehow reach this young man with the gospel of Christ. You see,
he feared that the singer had never really known Christ as Saviour. As
a result, God gave a beautiful song to William Kirkpatrick, which he
asked the soloist to sing during an evening service of the meetings.
He did so, and he was so convicted in his heart as he sang the words
that he decided to stay and hear the sermon. Following the sermon, the
singer knelt in the altar area and was gloriously converted.
During that notable camp meeting, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the
song that so moved the heart of the soloist and has been used for the
Lord to do the same in thousands of hearts ever since was:
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.
Nineteen years later, at age eighty-three, Kirkpatrick was sitting up
late, working on a music composition. His wife awakened and noticed
that the lights were still on in his study. After calling out to him
and hearing no response, she went quickly to his study and found him
slumped over his last musical offering. He had gone peacefully home to
his Lord.
Coming home, coming home
Nevermore to roam;
Open now Thine arms of love
Lord, I'm coming home.
Bible Verses
Luke 15:18
- I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I
have sinned against Heaven and you.'
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