It was early in 1985. I was sitting in a class called “Methods for Teaching Elementary Music” at Oakwood College in Huntsville, AL. For some reason, I looked at my left hand and noticed that the diamond had fallen out of my engagement ring. Since there were only 8 of us in the class and since I was the only white student, my frantic twisting and turning as I looked all around my desk was hard to ignore. I’ll never forget what that kind teacher did. She asked me what was wrong. When I told her, she said,”Okay, everyone. We are going to help our fellow student retrace her steps until we find that diamond.” They all stood up and starting searching with me. We walked outside and out to the parking lot. A few feet before we reached the driver’s side of my car, someone said, “I see it!” And, there it was. My diamond, shining on the pavement. What a relief! What a feeling of gratitude to that teacher and those students.
Recently my family found something that had been lost to us for decades. We knew it existed, and we longed to see it again and know what had happened. But, until a few days ago, it seemed hopeless.
Now, what was lost is back where we can see it and touch it. We have been thrilled, relieved and so very grateful.
Have you ever lost something very precious to you? Did you agonize over what might have happened? Did you search diligently until you found it? Did you go out and replace the lost item, or did you simply mourn the loss and move on?
Some things that are lost CAN be replaced. Other things cannot.
All of this has led me back to Luke 15 — the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, the Lost Son. Look at the responses when each of these items of great value was found after being lost:
Luke 15:6b-7 — “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:9b-10 — “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!” In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:23-24 — “…bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.” And they began to be merry.
AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND
THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME
I ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW I’M FOUND, WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE.
If you were lost and then found your way like I did when I was 8 years old, then you can know that our repentance and salvation caused a party to break out in heaven. Don’t you love that?
If you are STILL lost, I urge you to find your way home. Admit you have done things that separate you from God. Ask for His forgiveness which is made possible by the death of Christ on the cross. Receive the free gift of salvation which is yours for the taking. Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Know that this decision makes the angels sing.
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