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"Have You Been Found?"
What a busy morning! I had arrived just in time for an appointment. As I stepped out of my car I took an important phone call, shoved my keys in the open side pocket of my shoulder bag, and hurriedly made my way toward the entrance as I wrapped up the conversation.
An hour later, I descended the elevator toward the exit and discovered that my keys were missing. Assuming that I had accidentally dropped them during my appointment, I returned to that area where helpful staff joined the search. We searched under chairs, on tables, and even in the garbage, but no keys were found.
I retraced my steps to my car and confirmed that my keys were not in the ignition. Back in the building I took my third elevator ride to the second floor where I was kindly informed that the keys still had not been discovered.
By now, I had called my husband who was prepared to drive from Ossineke to rescue me, but I decided to retrace my steps one more time. I glanced at the reception desk near the entrance and this time I spotted a familiar sight - my key ring!
Someone had found the keys on the grass near the sidewalk and brought them in. As you can imagine, I was relieved and felt like celebrating over having my keys back in hand. I wished I could thank the thoughtful person who turned them in.
We all lose things from time to time; some losses are more significant than others. Some are never recovered and the loss is mourned.
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, Jesus told three different stories with the same underlying message of diligently seeking that which was lost until it is found.
He begins with a shepherd who discovers that one sheep from his flock is missing and because each sheep is valuable to him, he leaves the ninety-nine sheep in order to seek and find the missing one. Upon finding it, he joyfully lifts the tired sheep to his shoulders and carries it safely home.
Next Jesus talks about a woman who loses one of ten silver coins somewhere in her house. In those days, most homes were tiny and dark, and many had dirt floors. Lighting a lamp, she carefully swept and searched her home until she found the lost coin. When she did, she was so happy that she called her neighbors together so that they could join in her rejoicing.
At the end of both of these stories, Jesus speaks of the joy that occurs and makes this astounding statement, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
What does the word repent mean? The third story of the lost son demonstrates the meaning of repentance well.
Jesus tells of a man who had two sons. Under Jewish law, a child came into his inheritance rights at birth but did not take actual possession of the inheritance until the parent died. In spite of knowing the law the younger son departed from tradition to make an insulting request of his father - he wanted his inheritance now.
In the midst of his humiliation, the father honored his son's request, and the young man soon set off "for a distant country where he squandered his wealth in wild living". Before long he had spent everything and was forced to work as a farm laborer feeding pigs. He was so desperately hungry that he would have gladly eaten the pig's slop, but no one gave him anything to eat. No one cared about him.
The son had hit bottom and come to the end of himself. This is when, in Jesus' words, "he came to his senses" and remembered the goodness, provision and care he received as a member of his father's house.
He made a heartfelt decision. He decided to return to his father. Not in arrogance. Not expecting anything. Instead, he wanted to express his regret and remorse; to repent and humbly tell his father that he had "sinned against him and against heaven".
I think the most incredible part of this story is the father's perspective and actions - though the son had publicly humiliated him, he still grieved the loss of his son and watched longingly for his return.
Jesus describes how the father saw his son trudging towards home from a long way off. Instead of anger or judgement, the father was filled with compassion toward his lost son and ran towards him.
He ran to him! He threw his arms around him and kissed him!
Though the son no longer felt worthy to be called his son, the father's compassion and love forgave all and extravagantly celebrated the return of his lost son.
In these poignant stories Jesus distilled His mission down to one incredible truth - His main focus was to seek you and me. Like the shepherd, He set out to "find" and each of us. He pursues us motivated by a love beyond our comprehension. A love that expresses Father God's mercy and forgiveness for fallen man.
In Luke 19:10 Jesus summed up His earthly mission with these words, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10.
Have you been found?