Will my cat ever come home?

The only thing that you can do is expand your search radius. An unneutered male cat in a rural area can establish a territory 5 miles (or more) in radius from your house. Since this is the first time he has been outside, it could be that he is in the process of staking out his territory. If so, he can be gone for a while. You can help him find his way home by tramping all over the land around your house. Leave your scent everywhere so your cat has something to follow back.