I love to collect pine cones! Even broken pine cones go into my bag when I’m collecting them, as the aroma of pine cones burning in the fireplace is wonderful!
One day we decided to go hiking in the Rocky Mountains, among the huge forests of pine trees. I got tired of hiking with the group as we were staying on the lower part of the mountain where there were few pine cones. So, disobeying what I knew was right, I left the group to climb up to a higher spot on the mountain. I was sure I could be back down and catch up with the group in good time, and I knew I would find some beautiful pine cones up higher. I was sure I’d be fine, as there was snow on the ground, so I could easily retrace my steps by seeing my footprints in the snow.
However, I had to dig around to find the beautiful pine cones, and it took longer than I expected, because the snow got deeper the higher I climbed up the mountain. It didn’t seem too long to me, though, before I had a bag full of my prized pine cones. I decided to go back to the group by retracing my steps. However, as I had been busily collecting pine cones, the sun had come out. To my dismay, it had melted much of the snow on the way I had come, and my footprints were not visible at all. I had been climbing longer than I thought! I also had told nobody I was breaking away from the hiking group. I had wandered here and there on the mountain going from tree to tree and now I was lost!
My cell phone did not work up in that high elevation no matter how many times I tried to text one of the hikers about the predicament I had put myself into. I tried yelling, but the only response I got was the lonely echo of my own voice. All I could see as I looked down the hill were the tops of many, many trees. I decided to head down the mountain, as I was sure I could find my way back to the group if I could locate the trail we had been on. I was getting cold and hungry, and my wet mittens had frozen in spots. I fell many times and slid and got some scrapes and bruises, but I finally made it down to the trail. I tried to run and catch up with the group, passing several signs stating “Beware of Bears!” which didn’t help me feel any safer! I was alone, cold, hungry and, worst of all, lost.
I tried and could not find the right way back; I realized there were several trails and I did not know the right one. Did you know that you are lost, if you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your own Savior? Not one of us can find the way to heaven by ourselves, but Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). He has made the way for each one of us to go to heaven by dying for our sins. But besides saving us for eternity, if we give our hearts to Jesus, He will guide and direct us in this life when we trust in Him and ask for His guidance. I knew the Lord Jesus. But, I had done wrong, so I fell to my knees and asked the Lord to please forgive me for sneaking away from the group and going my own way. I asked Him to please help me to find my way back.
It was winter, and there weren’t many people on the mountains. As a matter of fact, I saw no one. Finally, I slid down to the winding road that was for cars, and I just sat on the side. Some of my cuts and scrapes were starting to sting by now, and I really hoped someone would come by and help me. I was experiencing something that the Bible tells us about. It says, “The way of transgressors is hard” (Proverbs 13:1515Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard. (Proverbs 13:15)). I had “transgressed,” which means I had done something I wasn’t supposed to do. So, now I was experiencing the hard part!
Then I heard the sound of a jeep in the distance! What a wonderful sound! It turned out to be a forest ranger, who had been told that I was missing from the group and approximately where my friends were when they noticed I was gone. The Lord had answered my prayer. The ranger took me back to safety in his jeep. I received a well-deserved scolding, but I was so thankful to be safe, warm and found. Luke 15:3232It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found. (Luke 15:32) talks of being “lost and found.” The Lord Jesus is looking for you if you are lost and not yet found by Him. I hope you will believe on the Lord Jesus and the great work He did on the cross to save you from your sins, so that you too will be “found” and will spend eternity in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Messages of God’s Love 1/17/2021