The Only Time I Ever Saw God Run

Dear Muslim & Christian friends,

In the last blog post, I asked the question, “Does God run to us?”

In this post, I want to give you an opportunity to hear the song above by a group known as Phillips, Craig, and Dean. And. . .I want to ask you questions about how you perceive God. What is God really like?

The incredibly moving lyrics of this song about the father heart of God were originally penned by a man named Benny Hester in about 1985 and the song is simply called, “When God Ran.” The lyrics are below and are based on the story Jesus told in the Holy Injeel (Luke 15:11-32).

The story is often called “The Prodigal Son” and is about a son who shamed his father by asking for his inheritance, left his father’s home with that money, spent it all on wild living in a foreign country, and finally came to his senses while destitute and desperate.

He started home hoping to become a servant to his father since he had forfeited the right to be called a son.

Instead of rejecting his son (as he deserved), the father in Jesus’ story saw him while he was returning home and. . .ran to him.

As you listen to this song, read the lyrics, or read the original story in the Injeel, I want to ask you questions about your mental image of God’s character:

“What kind of a God would ‘run’ to you or me (all of us are sinners to be sure)?”

“What kind of God would long for us to come back ‘home’– knowing all we have done to disobey, disappoint, and dishonor Him?”

“What kind of God would hug us, hold us, kiss us repeatedly, and welcome us back after a life of rebellion?”

“What kind of God would forgive us and release us from the horrible shame we have brought to Him?”

“What kind of God would have a celebration of our homecoming instead of punishing us or sending us away?”

“Is the father in this story representative of the God you worship – a God who ‘runs’ to the one who truly repents?”

Whether you are a Muslim or a Christian (or something else, or nothing at all), I would love to hear your responses to these questions about what God is really like. Please click below (after reading the amazing song lyrics) to leave a reply.

(Postscript: I hope that the reader understands that when I speak of God “running,” I am using figurative language. I use it to describe God’s great and wonderful heart moving passionately and quickly toward us when we come to Him in humble and sincere repentance for our sins – especially for the one who has been away from God for a long time or the one who has never given their life to Him in the first place. In His tender father heart, God is more than ready to welcome us back “home.”)

WHEN GOD RAN by Benny Hester

Almighty God, the great I am
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings
Mighty conqueror, and the only time
The only time I ever saw Him run. . .

CHORUS:
Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son, do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise. . .when God ran

The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
Then one night, I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road ahead I could see
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run

And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
“Son, do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise and He brought me to my knees
When God ran – I saw Him run to me

BRIDGE:
I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day

I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again

He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”
He called me “son”
He said, “Son, do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me
I saw Him run to me
And then I ran to Him

When God ran