Lost and Found

Lost and found

What is a memory that you have of a time when you lost something, and then found it sometime later?

One time, when I was about 8 years old, I had gotten a large “bouncy ball.” I had several other “bouncy balls” but none of them were as big as this one. It was special. About the size of a baseball, I could throw it as hard as I could to the ground and it would skyrocket up 40 or 50 feet into the air.

Well, one day I was playing with it in my bedroom (bouncing it very carefully, as to not break anything) when I somehow lost it. I looked everywhere that I could think of, but to no avail. It seemed to have just vanished. I was seriously disappointed.

Probably about a month later, I was picking up some toys in my room, when I noticed something down by the frame of my bed. It was my giant bouncy ball. Somehow it had lain unnoticed by me for that entire time. As you can guess I was pretty elated to finally have my special toy once again.

The world is full of sinners, “lost sheep” Jesus referred to them as. Sheep that have gone astray from their master, and gotten lost out in the world. And just like when I found my ball, and became so happy, the Bible teaches us that the angels in Heaven rejoice over each sinner that repents and turns from their sins.

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:1-7’’

It is a joyous thing when a person makes that decision to turn away from their sins, and come forward asking for forgiveness. It is perfectly illustrated in the parable that Jesus told about the prodigal son. The son who went out, and basically got lost out in the world of sin, until one day he came to his senses and realized what a fool he had been. Admitting his sins, he came forward in meekness asking for forgiveness. He didn’t even expect to be received back as a son anymore, but had resigned himself to the place of a servant. But the dad of that son was so happy to have his son back, that he immediately restored him back once again, and threw a giant party to celebrate this wonderful event.

So you see, this is what goes on in Heaven when a sinner repents. Joy. Celebration. All of us were at some point like this wayward son, blinded and lost in our sins. But we all need to change, admit our sins, and come for forgiveness.

“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:25

We all need to be found and brought back into the sheepfold. We all need to listen to the Lord’s voice calling out to us to repent, and turn from our sin. He wants to save and protect us, but we need to come back to Him. 

Have you been found?

In Christ,

Andrew