Twelve-year-old Greg Holzworth from Raynham, Massachusetts, was out in the woods building a tree fort. His dog Shadow was with him, and it was snowing pretty hard.
As Greg worked on his fort, Shadow wandered away and began barking. Greg went to look for him and found Shadow in a briar patch. Greg explains what happened next.
“When I got there, Shadow took off, and I followed him. It took a while, but after I finally caught up with him, I turned around and tried to follow my tracks to go back. But I soon discovered that those tracks were completely covered with new snow. Everything looked the same, because it was all covered with deep snow. I was lost, and I was beginning to get scared!”
Have you ever been lost and scared? You may not have been lost in the woods, but maybe you’ve been lost in a shopping mall or at a zoo. Even worse than any of these, we all need to admit that we’ve been lost as sinners. And the sad news is that some of us still are!
Greg could not find his way home. He was too cold and tired to continue walking, so he sat against a tree. Fortunately, by building a wall of snow he was able to protect himself from the biting winds. But he knew he couldn’t stay warm through the long night hours. He still needed a covering. Because his hands were so cold, he was unable to break branches off the trees to cover himself. Greg tells how he found a solution.
“I was scared and I was freezing cold. All I could think about was staying warm and getting home. As I lay there, I called Shadow (weighing 80 pounds) over to me, and then he climbed up and lay on top of me. His warm body kept me warm,” Greg said.
How wonderful—a covering! Jesus wants to be a “covering” for lost boys and girls (and grown-ups too) who are wandering in this dreary, bitter-cold world of sin. He wants us to trust Him for the protection He offers. The Lord Jesus could say of Himself, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:1111I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)). The Lord Jesus Christ gave His life for each of us by dying on the cross of Calvary. He died so that we might live. I hope that you will be able to say, like David the psalmist, “I will trust in the covert [covering] of Thy wings” (Psalm 61:44I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. (Psalm 61:4)).
When Greg did not return home by dusk, his father went into the woods to look for him. Then later, when her husband did not come back home, Greg’s mother called the police.
Police from Raynham broadcasted a call for volunteers and neighboring police departments to help in the search. Even with the temperature near zero and a wind chill factor of 20 degrees below zero, more than 100 volunteers showed up.
Eight inches of newly fallen snow slowed the search, and it wasn’t until 1:00 a.m. that a team of volunteers found Greg and Shadow. Francis Leary of Raynham was a member of that search party that wouldn’t give up.
Mr. Leary’s devotedness to finding this lost boy reminds me of how the Lord Jesus seeks lost sinners. The Bible states plainly that “the Son of man [the Lord Jesus] is come 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)). And He never gives up!
When Greg first heard the men calling his name, he couldn’t answer. His throat was too raw from the cold. But Shadow barked.
“I thought I heard someone calling me, but then I didn’t hear it again and I figured it was just my imagination. I laid back down, but Shadow started barking again. Then I got up and started yelling as loud as I could, and they found me!” Greg thankfully explained.
Like Greg, we as lost sinners must answer a call. It is the voice of the Lord Jesus that calls us. Have you heard His call? Have you answered Him? “Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Hebrews 4:77Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Hebrews 4:7)). Failure to answer Him will eventually result in your being lost forever. Don’t miss out on God’s salvation! Answer His call TODAY!
ML-02/25/2018