When I was a boy I often spent part of the summer with my grandfather at his cottage. I liked to collect butterflies. I would catch them when they landed on one of the many flowers in my grandfather’s yard. Then I would let them loose in Grandfather’s big screened-in porch. I can remember having many beautiful butterflies flying around on the porch.
My grandfather’s cottage was in a large clearing in the woods of central Pennsylvania.
Being surrounded by woods kept me from wandering too far away while chasing the fluttering butterflies. This was not the case though with a young boy named Rod who also loved to chase butterflies.
Rod lived on a ranch in the western United States. It was in prairie country so the homestead was surrounded by open range and canyons. Behind the house was a fenced-in garden area. This is where Rod spent most of his time playing. There were many flowers planted in front of the fence which attracted butterflies. Rod would catch them and keep them in jars for a while and then set them free again.
One summer day the gate was left open a little. Rod had been told many times that he was not to go out of the yard. But the beautiful fluttering butterfly that he was chasing was now sitting on a wild flower on the other side of the fence.
Rod was watching the butterfly when he noticed the gate was open a little. Pushing it open, he crept up on the still-resting butterfly. Just as he reached for its folded-back wings it flew off. Now the chase was on!
No one had told the butterfly to stay close to Rod’s house, so it fluttered from one flower to another with Rod right behind. Each time he would get close the butterfly would flutter off again. Rod didn’t realize it but the butterfly was leading him farther and farther away from the safety of his home.
Ron finally got tired and gave up on the butterfly and turned to go back home. It was then that he realized that there was no sign of a path or road. Actually he wasn’t far from home, but he couldn’t see the house. He was in a canyon. He started walking in what he thought was the right direction, but it wasn’t. The farther he walked the farther it took him away from home. Although he was trying his best to go home, he was going away from it. He was lost, but he didn’t know it.
Meanwhile, back at his house Rod’s mother soon missed him. A quick search of the buildings around the ranch didn’t find him. A frantic call on the two-way radio brought his dad in from the field. They searched all over, but could not find Rod.
Returning home, they called the sheriff. Within an hour a large search party was formed at Rod’s house. After getting instructions from the sheriff, the searchers moved out in all directions. Neighbors and town-folk joined in the search for Rod. Some were on horseback, some on foot, others were in jeeps. Even a helicopter from the army base joined the search.
The search continued through the late afternoon and evening. With sunset coming on, Rod’s parents got more worried. Questions kept crossing their minds: what had happened?...where was Rod?...was he safe?...had he been attacked by a coyote?...would he be found before night?
Some parents around us may be worried about their sons and daughters. They have raised their children in a Christian home, loved them, read the Bible and prayed with them. Still they worry because they know their child is “lost.” They are lost like the Bible describes: “All we like sheep have gone astray (are lost); we have turned every one to his own way.” Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6).
Stop right now and ask yourself the question “Am I lost?” If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your own Saviour, you are lost. Each of us, young or old, have “gone astray” in the eyes of God. We have gone our “own way” which is away from God. He wants to rescue us, but first we must want to be rescued. We must realize that we are lost and call for help. By turning to the Saviour, admitting that we are sinners and asking the Lord Jesus to wash away our sins, we will be saved. His love for us makes this possible. It took Him to the cross where He suffered for the sins of all who would accept Him as their Saviour. Won’t you ask Him to save you right now?
It was close to midnight and Rod was still lost. It had gotten cool after dark and he was shivering. He sat down; he was so tired. He had called and called for help, but no one answered. He had cried and cried and now as he sat on a rock in the canyon, he wished he were safe at home.
The sheriff was still looking for Rod in the canyons west of the house. He stopped his jeep beside a rocky ledge just above a canyon. Slowly he moved the big spotlight mounted on his jeep along the canyon walls.
Suddenly the powerful beam of light shone on a little boy jumping up and down and waving his arms. Rod was soon safe in the sheriff’s jeep.
The sheriff radioed to the others that Rod was safe. After being checked by a doctor, a tired little boy was being held in his parents’ arms. Oh, how happy he was! Oh, how happy they were! He was safe now.
You, too, can rest “safe” in the arms of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus. He loves you and wants to save you. He is waiting right now for your call. Remember, He came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). Why not accept Him as your Saviour right now.
ML-07/28/1985