luke 15

When I lose something, the first thing I do is ask Kelli the “Have you seen …” question. When I get a negative response, I start searching further.  I think through where I saw it last, go there and when I don’t find it, I keep coming up with memories of where I saw it last.  I search the home inside and out, look in the car, go to the office, and even ask our dogs. Eventually I find it or give up. I am going to use something a friend gave me to keep safe as an example.  He left me his car key to start his car every now and then while he is away. So the other day, I went to get the key and couldn’t find it.  I asked Kelli, searched my house, carport and the office,yet no key was to be found.  As I retraced my steps in my memory, a very faint detail came to mind.  The other day, I was being a good husband, (or so I think) and decided to de-clutter in our home office.  I am putting papers in stacks, throwing out the tons of junk mail and so forth.  I find a few keys and try to remember what they were for. I saw a Toyota key and thought, “My goodness, why in the world do I still have a key to my truck that I sold 4 years ago.  There is no need to keep that.” In the trash it went.  Now you can imagine my next thought. “Oh shoot!, I threw away the only key I know of!” To make a long story short, with help from our local locksmith, and more than a few dollars exchanged, I was able to have a key made and the problem is solved. (Note: if you are the owner of this brand new gold plated key, no worries, everything is fine J)

I tell this somewhat funny story about my life to give an exact opposite example of who Christ is.  Christ doesn’t need to ask others about your whereabouts, Christ doesn’t need to look in desks, under beds, in cars, or offices. Christ doesn’t need to sit and run through memories to find us.  He knows where we are, what we are doing, and where we are going.  He is always there.  Luke 15 gives three parables about losing something and finding it.  The first is about losing a sheep and how the shepherd  will leave all the others to search for one and rejoices with others when he does.  The next is about a woman who loses a  silver coin and finds it and tells all about her find and celebrates.  The last is about the son who takes his inheritance, squanders it, and the returns home in repentance.  When he does, his father rejoices with a feast. 

It is very important that we understand who we are in Christ.  Don’t be like the Pharisees who think they have it all right. Verse 7 is very strong in that it says, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”  Christ gave this example to tell them that He is not looking and waiting for those who think they are righteous, but those who understand they are lost without Him. With Him, we can rejoice and all of heaven will too! Hopefully next time you lose something, this chapter can remind you that we have something to rejoice in, that Christ has saved us.  Then pray for those around you that are lost and need to be found.  They need to repent and come home like the son in the third parable.  I challenge you right now to pray two things.  First, if you are believer, thank God for sending His son to save you. If you are not, Christ is alive and is the Shepherd ready to care for you and heaven is waiting to rejoice!  Second, pray for someone you know who is lost and needs to be found.

--Paul Biles, CFO