Have you ever been lost? If not, you probably do not know how scary it can be.
Perhaps you have wondered just what you would do if you were ever lost. Well, Amy and her sister Paula did get lost one day. I am sure you will want to know what happened to them.
I do not know for sure just how old they were at the time. I would guess that Amy was about eight years old, and Paula was about five. Of course, Amy being three years older than Paula felt that she was nearly grown-up and well able to take care of her little sister.
One day, both of the girls decided to pick a bouquet of flowers for their mother. They knew that there were wild flowers in the woods, so that is where they went.
Since the woods were near their house they thought they would not be gone long. Because the bouquet was going to be a surprise for their mother, they did not tell her where they were going. So off they went, hand in hand.
Soon they were walking happily along, but as the undergrowth became thicker they had to walk single file along the narrow, winding path. On and on they went, looking for the nice patches of wild flowers in bloom. They found only a few single flowers, so they continued to walk farther and farther into the woods looking for more.
Some of you boys and girls reading this story may be lost right now and not even know it. Amy and Paula were lost and did not know it. They had wandered so far into the woods that they did not know where they were. But since they had not tried to find their way home as yet, they did not know they were lost.
In the Bible we read, “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” 2 Corinthians 4:33But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (2 Corinthians 4:3). What this means is that Satan has fooled many people into thinking that they are not lost when they really are. He has hid the good news (the gospel) from them, because if these people discover they are lost, they might look for the way to be found.
When we were born we were already away from God. We are sinners without any hope of finding our way back to Him again by ourselves. Because we have all sinned, and since every sin must be punished, even one sin will keep us out of heaven. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).
The good news of the gospel is that there is hope for sinners like us. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “The Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” Matthew 18:1111For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11). God says you are lost even if you do not know it. If you see that you are a sinner lost and away from God, then turn to Him and be saved. He is waiting to save you. He is waiting for you to see that you are lost; then He will show you the way. The Way is the Lord Jesus Christ: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” 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). These words of the Saviour provide the way to heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ has already been punished by God on the cross for the sins of any who will believe in Him. There He opened the door for us to share heaven with Him forever. The blood that He shed there has washed all our sins away. Now there is nothing to keep us out of heaven. Won’t you accept Him as your own Saviour now and be included with those who will be in heaven?
Amy and Paula were still picking flowers when they heard the first rumble of thunder. They had been so busy picking flowers and looking for more that they did not know how far they had gone or that it was getting late.
Are you so busy with the pretty things around you that you are not aware that you are in danger? If you are not saved and you die, or if the Lord Jesus Christ comes back (He is coming very soon) then it will be too late to be saved. Amy and Paula were warned by the thunder that a storm was coming. The storm of punishment that is going to fall on this world, because of sin, is very close. Turn to the Saviour while there is still time.
“Look how dark it’s getting,” said Amy. “We had better hurry home before it starts to rain!”
Just then there was a bright flash of lightning followed by a loud clap of thunder.
“Oh,” they both cried, “here it comes now.”
“I don’t like lightning and thunder,” cried Paula. “They make me afraid.”
There was another bright flash and another clap of thunder. Then it began to rain very hard.
“Come on, Paula, run!” cried Amy, very much frightened herself.
They ran as fast as they could, splashing through the puddles. In less than five minutes their hair, clothes and shoes were soaking wet.
Suddenly Amy stopped. “Where are we? I’m not sure which way to go.. I think we’re lost! Oh, Paula, what should we do?”
Yes, they were lost—lost in the woods in a rain storm and not knowing which way to turn. If this is the way you are right now as you think about your sins, then turn to God. He can save you.
Paula turned to Amy and said, “Remember what Mommy once said, that if we ever got into trouble we should tell Jesus about it, and ask Him to help us.”
“Okay,” said Amy, “let’s tell Him we’re lost, and maybe He will show us what to do.”
Right away the two girls closed their eyes and asked Jesus to help them get back home real fast.
“Amy, Paula... where are you? Amy, Paula... can you hear me?”
It was Daddy calling! “Here, Daddy, we’re over here.”
Daddy quickly found them. He had brought their raincoats and had them put them on over their wet clothes. “These will keep you warm until we get home,” he told them.
Thirty minutes later they were home, and then into dry, warm clothes and drinking some hot chocolate.
“I’m sure glad Daddy decided to look in the woods when we couldn’t find you,” Mother said, pouring more hot chocolate into their cups.
“We are, too,” said Amy. “We were so glad to hear Daddy calling. And you know what? We had just told Jesus we were lost and didn’t know how to get home. Then we heard Daddy calling, That was Jesus taking care of us, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, dear. He is always watching over those who have trusted in Him.”
Will you be glad to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus? If you have accepted Him as your Saviour, you certainly will be. But if you are not saved, then the next time you hear His voice you will be standing before Him still in your sins. Is that what you want? We plead with you now; accept Him as your Saviour before it is too late.
ML-09/11/1983