January 6, 2017 (Friday)
Yesterday’s blog, “Lost Highway,” told the story of getting lost on a lonely road, emphasizing the fact that one can get lost on the road of life. Today, I would like to remind us all that Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost. He emphasized this point by giving us three stories about recovering that which had been lost. These are found in Luke 15.
First, there is the lost sheep. A shepherd has 100 sheep but loses one. The shepherd
searches until he finds it, puts it on his shoulders and brings it home, inviting all his friends to celebrate his finding the one lost sheep. Jesus concluded: “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Then, there is the lost coin. The owner has ten coins but loses one. She finally finds the coin after diligently searching for it. She then invites everyone to celebrate with her the retrieval of the one lost coin. ” In the same way,” Jesus said, “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Finally, there is the lost son. The younger of two brothers requests and receives his inheritance, then wastes it all in sinful living. When he comes home, humiliated, he is received with love and acceptance by his father, who declares, “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” The clear teaching of Jesus is that God’s forgiveness gives us new life and brings joy to Heaven.
Each of these stories emphasizes the thrill of finding that which had been lost.
I thought I was lost when I was 5 years old, in downtown Houston. I remember very well the terror I felt when I realized I was surrounded by strangers but could not find my mother. I was frozen with fear, struck with panic. I’ll never forget the wonderful feeling of being found by my embarrassed mother, on the sidewalk in front of Kress’s on Main Street. She was the most welcome sight I had ever seen. I suddenly had my life back. That’s the way I saw it as a 5-year-old.
When we accepted Christ as our Savior, we had been lost in our sins and unbelief, but the amazing grace of God found us and Christ saved us. John Newton wrote a song about our experience: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. ‘Twas blind, but now I see.”