A LITTLE boy named Roddie loved to chase butterflies. He lived on a ranch, and his home was surrounded by big fields. The back door opened into a large fenced garden and here Roddie used to play. At the end of the garden was a gate. Roddie had often been told never to go out of that gate. Now one summer day while Roddie played in the garden a beautiful butterfly appeared among the flowers. In a flash he was after it and a merry game of tag began.
But no one had told the butterfly not to go past the gate, and soon the gorgeous visitor floated over the fence into the big field beyond.
Forgetting his mother’s warnings, Roddie quickly unlatched the gate and dashed after the butterfly. Far into the big field he followed until at last the butterfly fluttered high out of sight and the chase ended.
After playing about in the field awhile, Roddie decided to return home. But there was no path, and he could not see the house for the trees. Without knowing it, he wandered farther and farther away.
Poor little fellow, he was lost!
Meanwhile, back at the house, dinnertime came and mother called for Roddie. When there was no answer and Roddie could not be found, there was soon a great stir at the ranch. His mother called the neighbors. His father called the sheriff. Soon everybody seemed to know that Roddie was lost. By sunset a great search had begun.
Not till far into the night when the sheriff was scouring the back roads in his Jeep, was Roddie found. Beside a rocky stretch of land, just above a canyon, the sheriff had stopped. Mounted on his Jeep was a big spotlight. Slowly he swept the dark and dangerous area with its powerful beam.
Suddenly the brilliant light revealed the figure of a little boy sitting on a big stone, right on the edge of the canyon. There was Roddie! — safe and sound.
Soon the big, kind sheriff was able to place the tired little boy safely in his waiting mother’s arms once more. And all the community rejoiced over the good news that Roddie was found.
Later, when asked if he was not afraid to be out in the dark all alone, Roddie replied, “No, I was not afraid, I knew my
Daddy would come for me.”
Although he did not know it at the time, the truth was, he was lost.
But Roddie is not the only one who has gone astray and got lost, and does not know it. “All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way,” the Bible tells us in 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). For this very reason the Lord Jesus, the loving Saviour, came from heaven “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)).
Here is a little chorus. Can you sing it as if it were true of you? Has Jesus saved you?
I was lost but Jesus saved me,
Found the lamb that ran away,
Now because He loves me so
He will never let me go
Till I’m safely home in heaven,
Oh, happy day!
ML-05/05/1974