First Baptist Church, Spanish Fort
Lost and found is the place you go when something is missing. The first time I heard of lost and found was in the first grade. Organizations often have a lost-and-found department.
Several years ago, an anonymous benefactor gave my wife, Sharon, a gold-hinged charm with the words “Holy Bible” inscribed on it. This unexpected gift was complete with a gold chain.
Upon further investigation, we noticed the chamber inside the charm contained metallic pages with the charge from our Lord for believers to pray in this manner:
“Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”
One day, the charm was mysteriously missing — unfortunately lost. Losing something of value is sad indeed. The sentimental value outweighed the price someone paid.
It represented a gift from God, as James reminds us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
While leaving home sometime later, I noticed a golden glimmer on the back doormat. There it was — the charm unbelievably found.
This situation reminds me of Luke’s Lost and Found Department, as we read in Luke 15:1–32 about the lost sheep, the lost silver and the lost son. Upon finding each of these, there was rejoicing.
Another thing comes to mind about lost souls. We read in Matthew 16:26, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” The hymn writer A.J. Hodge asked, “Have you counted the cost if your soul should be lost / Tho’ you gain the whole world for your own?”
If you sense something missing in your life, then you should go to the Lord of lost and found and say a prayer like this:
Dear God, I know I am a sinner in thought, word and deed. I am a sinner by nature and choice. I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sin and rose from the grave on the third day. I ask Jesus to take over my life and be my Savior, Lord and King. Thank you for giving me forgiveness and everlasting life. Amen.
May you truly know the joy of being lost and found.
Share with others: