Today, all over the sports world and especially in my area, people will be talking about a homecoming. Specifically, they’ll be talking about Cam Newton’s homecoming.
The former MVP and starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers was signed to a one-year contract last Thursday, and 3 days later, he helped his new old team rout the best team in the NFL.
There are so many things that could be said, but let me state one simple truth: homecomings have a purpose.
Cam gets that, perhaps even more than many followers of Jesus do. In multiple interviews (and when you’re arguably the most popular Panthers player ever, you do countless interviews), he keeps saying the same thing: this isn’t a show or a stunt; it’s time to get to work and get better as a team.
It’s good to throw parties when people come home, but the celebration is more than just a person’s return. We celebrate the return of purpose, of identity, and mission.
This is important because God is bringing a generation home again, and while we celebrate, we must do more than that. We must receive them back into the family, remind them of their identity, and release them into their destiny. All of that takes intentional effort, and it must be done because just like Cam’s return has sparked a fan base’s return, this next wave of spiritual homecomings will energize the return of many prodigals.
It’s good and right to celebrate in this homecoming season, but it’s also time to get to work because homecomings have a purpose, and that purpose is people.
Let’s go!
