Good Morning.
I remember a time when I became lost. If you headed west from our home a mile east of Nevis, MN and crossed MN Hwy 34 you could walk a very long way without seeing a road let alone another person. I am not sure what set me out on such a journey, I don’t recall those insignificant details at all, but I can sure tell you about the outcome. The outcome was that I spent a full day wandering around through the fields and forest with no idea which direction pointed towards home. Being lost is a pretty rotten feeling, especially when you are a 12-year-old boy. You know, still young enough to do stupid things like get hopelessly lost in the woods, young enough to be scared spitless by the ordeal, but just old enough to be embarrassed about it.
Through the years I have come upon a great many people who I would classify as “lost”. They are miserable, afraid, ashamed, and typically without any hope of rescue. They aren’t lost in the woods; they are lost in life.
The beauty in which they were created has been replaced by the ugliness of the chains of sin. The confidence they often try to show off to the world is actually a façade, a mask that covers the terror of being lost and confused.
Being lost is no respecter of persons, because it doesn’t matter how old you are, or your gender, or your racial heritage, or your wealth, or your social standing. Being lost can claim us all, and no one is immune to the fear and doubts that are caused by being lost.
But when the lost are found there is incredible joy. And when the lost are found and come to accept the fact that they never need to fear being lost again, that joy turns to praise and worship. Consider Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When the lost are found, when fear is replaced by the love of Jesus Christ, there is nothing in the universe with enough power to drag us away from Him. There is nothing in heaven or on earth that can take us back to that dark and miserable place without hope.
Praise God for the certainty of never again being lost and never alone, all because we know Jesus who is our Light and our Way!
Vern