Have you ever lost something that meant a lot to you? — maybe your pet, a toy or even a special friend? Sometimes we lose things and find them again right away, but sometimes we lose things that we never do find.
Just as Mrs. King started down her driveway for a walk, she heard a girl call over to her, “Have you seen my helicopter?” The girl came running up, talking the whole way.
Susan had been flying her model, radio-controlled helicopter that afternoon when suddenly it went out of control and fell to the ground. Susan lived several blocks away from Mrs. King, but she was sure the helicopter had fallen in the area of Mrs. King’s house.
Mrs. King went to her back yard and looked in all the trees, around her garden and even on the roof of her house, but the lost helicopter was nowhere to be seen. As Mrs. King left on her walk, Susan continued looking in the trees lining the street and asking the neighbors if they had seen her helicopter.
The next day Mrs. King found a notice in her mailbox. She had already forgotten about the lost helicopter, but Susan hadn’t. After Mrs. King read the notice she went back outside to take another look around, but the helicopter just was not there. Susan continued to hunt for her helicopter for several more days, but it had disappeared, and she never did find it.
In the Bible in Luke 15:3-73And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:3‑7), there is a story of a shepherd who had 100 sheep and lost one of them. He looked and looked until he found that lost sheep. He was so happy he called all his friends and neighbors to tell them he had found his lost sheep. That sheep was valuable to him. Then in Luke 15:8-108Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:8‑10), there is another story of a lady who had 10 pieces of silver and lost one of them. She used a light to look for it and swept her house until she finally found it. Then she called her friends and neighbors to tell them she had found it. That piece of silver was valuable to her. I’m sure if Susan had found her helicopter she would have been very happy too, because it was valuable to her. She might have gone around to some of the neighbors to tell them.
Did you know that you are lost in your sins if you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? This is why you are lost.
God created every one of us, and so we belong to Him — we are valuable to Him. But because Adam and Eve sinned, their children were born sinners, and so each one of us is also born a sinner. (None of us had to be taught to do things that are wrong.) Our sins separate us from God, and this makes us “lost” from Him. Even though we are lost from God, He still loves us and we are still valuable to Him. We are so valuable, in fact, that His Son offered to become a man and give up His life as an offering for sin. And this is just what Jesus did on Calvary’s cross, opening the way for us to be “found.” “For the Son of man 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).
Are you still lost in your sins? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31). If the shepherd was happy when he found his lost sheep and the lady was happy when she found her piece of money, think how happy the Lord Jesus will be when a boy or girl (or anyone) accepts Him as their own Saviour! “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:1010Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10).
ML-04/17/1988