The Lost and Found Box

Can you think of a time when you lost something important to you and you spent many hours looking for it, until eventually you found it? 

At school when I was young it was inevitable that someone would lose something on the playground, or in the cafeteria at lunch time, and if those things weren’t immediately claimed, quite often those things would end up in a box in the office, with the sign Lost and Found above it. This box would hold any lost item that was found until the time that someone came looking for it. There would be hats, toys, shoes, among many other things in this box, and if the item was important enough to the person who had lost it that person would be extremely happy to have it once again. What was once lost was now found.

The world is like a Lost and Found box, and this box is filled with the souls of men who are there waiting to be saved. “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.

Luke 15:1-7 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. 

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.

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

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? Jesus wants to save you, and rescue you from that Lost and Found box.

In Christ,

Andrew