“God Is Like Motel 6 — He’ll Leave the Light On for You”

There was a time when one of the most recognizable advertising slogans in America came from Motel 6. It was simple, comforting and unforgettable: “We’ll leave the light on for you.”

Now, I don't know about you, but every time I hear those words, I can't help but think about the goodness, grace and mercy of God. Because if there is one thing I've learned during my journey through this life, it is this:

God is like Motel 6. No matter how far you've wandered, how long you've been gone or how many wrong turns you've taken, He's still leaving the light on for you.

And somebody reading this today needs to know that the light is still on.

You may have walked away from the church. You may have turned your back on your faith. You may have made some decisions you're not proud of, hurt some people who loved you or found yourself in places you never imagined you would be.

But here's the good news. Just because you walked away from God doesn't mean God walked away from you. In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of a young man we know as the prodigal son.

This young man had everything he needed in his father's house. He had security, provision, protection and, most importantly, a father who loved him. But like so many of us, he became convinced that what was waiting for him out in the world was better than what he already had at home.

He wanted his inheritance, and he wanted it right then. He wanted freedom without responsibility, pleasure without consequences and blessings without accountability. So he took his money and left home.

And for a while, I imagine life was good. The parties were jumping. The drinks were flowing. The friends were plentiful. Everybody knew his name as long as he was picking up the tab.

But there's something about living outside the will of God that we sometimes fail to understand. The world will help you spend everything you have, but when you have nothing left, don't be surprised when the world has nothing left for you.

The Bible tells us that the young man wasted his substance in reckless living. And when his money ran out, a famine came. Suddenly, the friends disappeared. The good times ended. The party was over. The same young man who had been living high on the hog found himself feeding hogs. And he became so hungry that even the food the pigs were eating began to look good.

Sometimes life has a way of bringing us to our senses. Sometimes you've got to lose a little something before you recognize what you had. Sometimes you've got to experience the darkness before you appreciate the light. And sometimes you've got to get tired of where you are before you're willing to return to where you belong.

Sooner or later, you're going to get tired. You're going to get tired of smoking your life away. You're going to get tired of drinking your troubles away, only to discover they're still waiting for you when you sober up. You're going to get tired of wasting your money trying to impress people who wouldn't give you a dime when you're broke. You're going to get tired of chasing relationships that leave you emptier than when you started. You're going to get tired of pretending you're happy when deep down inside you're miserable. You're going to get tired of smiling in public and crying in private. And sooner or later, you're going to discover that everything the world offers to satisfy your flesh cannot fill the emptiness in your soul.

But here's the part of the prodigal son's story that makes me want to shout. Luke 15:17 tells us: "And when he came to himself..." Don't miss those words. He came to himself! He didn't come into a fortune. He didn't come into a new relationship. He didn't come into a better job. He came to himself!

He finally recognized that the life he was living was not the life he was created to live. And that's when he said, in essence, "My father has servants who have bread enough to spare, and here I am perishing with hunger." In other words: "My father is rich, and here I am living like I'm poor!"

How many of us are spiritually starving while our Heavenly Father has everything we need? How many of us are searching for peace in a bottle when the Prince of Peace is waiting for us? How many of us are searching for love in all the wrong places when God's love has never stopped reaching for us? How many of us are sitting in darkness when the light has been on all along?

The young man finally made a decision. He said, "I will arise and go to my father." And that's where the story gets even better. The Bible says that while he was still a great way off, his father saw him, had compassion, ran to him, embraced him and kissed him.

I want you to picture that scene. The boy was dirty. He smelled like the pigpen. His clothes were probably torn. His pockets were empty. His pride was gone. But his father didn't stand on the porch with his arms folded, demanding an explanation. He didn't say, "I told you so." He didn't ask, "Where's all that money I gave you?" He didn't tell him to go take a bath before coming into the house.

He ran to meet him just as he was. That's grace! That's mercy! That's unconditional love! And that's the kind of God we serve. A God who doesn't wait for us to get everything right before welcoming us back. A God who sees beyond our mistakes and recognizes His child. A God who knows where we've been but still has a place for us at His table.

And I believe there's somebody reading this today who needs to hear that message. You've been away long enough. You've cried enough tears. You've made enough excuses. You've spent enough nights wondering how your life got so far off course.

Maybe you feel ashamed of what you've done. Maybe you believe you've disappointed God too many times. Maybe you've convinced yourself that you've gone too far to turn around.

Well, I’m here today to tell you something. You are never so far from God that His grace cannot reach you. You may have left the house, but your Father hasn't changed the locks. You may have lost your way, but He hasn't forgotten your name. You may have wasted your inheritance, but you haven't exhausted His mercy. And while you've been out there trying to find your way, God has been waiting with open arms.

The light is still on. The door is still open. And there's still room for you at the Father's table.

But remember this: The prodigal son didn't get home by simply wishing things were different. He had to make a decision. He had to get up, turn around and start walking toward his father. And sometimes that's the hardest part of coming home. Admitting we were wrong. Swallowing our pride. Recognizing that the road we chose wasn't taking us where we thought it would.

But there's no shame in turning around when you're headed in the wrong direction. Sometimes the greatest step forward in life begins with the courage to turn around.

So here's my message to you today. If you've wandered away from your faith, come home. If you've allowed disappointment to separate you from God, come home. If you've been trying to carry life's burdens all by yourself, come home. And if you've spent years believing God could never forgive what you've done, remember that the blood of Jesus is greater than your worst mistake.

Because the same Father who welcomed that prodigal son is still welcoming His children today. And when you finally make it back, don't be surprised if there's a celebration waiting for you.

Because Luke 15:24 reminds us: "For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found."

As I close, I want you to remember something. Motel 6 made a promise in an advertisement that became famous across America: "We'll leave the light on for you." But long before Motel 6 ever came up with that slogan, God demonstrated that promise through His love, His mercy and His grace.

And unlike a motel, God's house doesn't require a reservation. You don't need a credit card. You don't need a perfect past. And you certainly don't need to pretend you've never made a mistake. All you need is a willing heart, a repentant spirit and the courage to come home. Because no matter how dark your yesterday may have been, God's grace offers the possibility of a brighter tomorrow.

The world may have turned its back on you. Your friends may have walked away. Your money may be gone, and your reputation may be in pieces. But your Heavenly Father is still waiting. And the beautiful thing about His love is that He's not simply waiting for you to reach the front door. Like the father in the parable, He's ready to run toward you.

So wherever you are today, whatever you've done and however long you've been gone, remember these words: God is like Motel 6. He's leaving the light on for you.And the Father is still waiting for His child to come home.