Something Can’t Be Found Until It’s Lost

Have you ever gone to a lost and found? It probably wasn’t to marvel at the variety of things people manage to lose. In almost every case we go to a lost and found – whether at work, a restaurant, a movie theater, or somewhere else we’ve been recently – seeking something of value that we’ve left behind. 

That happened to me some time ago. I’d been to a worship service at our church and on the way home realized I’d forgotten, of all things, my Bible. Since it’s not my only Bible I didn’t rush back to church the same day, but the following Sunday I did ask where the lost and found was to see if it was there.

I was amazed at the number of Bibles that were there, waiting to be reclaimed. After a brief search I found my own Bible and haven’t misplaced it since. As for the other Bibles, either their owners hadn’t yet realized they were lost, they forgot where they had left them, or sadly, didn’t care.

 

My intent isn’t to judge those who haven’t diligently searched for their missing Bibles. Maybe some were left by visitors from out of town and returning just to check out our church’s lost and found wasn’t practical for them. But going there demonstrated a basic truth: Things can’t be found until we realize they’re lost.

 

This is eminently true in a spiritual sense. A good friend of mine, a truly gifted evangelist, often said, “People can’t be saved until they realize they’re lost.” That is, if they’re perfectly content with their lives as they are and don’t recognize they’re lost and in need for a Savior, it’s hard for them to understand they need to be found.

 

Jesus Christ explained this in one of His best-known parables, the one about a young man commonly known as the prodigal son.

 

As the story went, a wealthy man had two sons. The younger one grew impatient waiting for his father to die, so he demanded his share of the inheritance right then. Jesus didn’t say what might have been going through the father’s mind, but he agreed to divide the estate equally between the two sons.

 

The greedy son, having no sense of his moral and spiritual lostness, figured he had it made. “Not long after that, the youngest songot together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need” (Luke 15:13-14).

 

Up to that point, if someone had told the son he was lost, he would have laughed hysterically. He might have responded, ‘Me, lost? You’re joking! I’ve got it made. I have everything I’ll ever need!’ Until he didn’t.

 

Desperate, this young fellow who hadn’t known he was lost hired himself out to slop pigs. Presuming he was a Jew, this very non-kosher job would have been the ultimate disgrace. Finally, beyond desperation, he decided to return home, grovel before his father, and offer himself to be one of the servants. 

 

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of the hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father’” (Luke 15:17-20).

 

Suddenly, this self-assured young man, who had no idea of how badly he had lost his way, was going home, head down in humiliation and remorse. He’d finally recognized his lostness.

 

The parable closes not with a father’s angry rebuke and condemnation, but with a joyful, ‘Welcome home!’ Seeing his prodigal son in the distance, the father rushed to him, embraced him, and then called for a festive party. “The father said to his servants, Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet…. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found’” (Luke 15:22-24).

 

I believe Jesus told this story to His followers to illustrate how our heavenly Father responds when people realize how completely lost they are and in repentance, turn to Him to become found.

 

One of the best-known hymns is “Amazing Grace,” written by one-time slave trader John Newton more than 250 years ago. Its message resonates just as strongly today. In this musical testimony of his spiritual rebirth, Newton made this declaration: “I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see.” As the friend I mentioned earlier observed, he had to get lost before he could let himself be found – by God.

 

Do you have a non-believing friend or family member you’ve been praying for, perhaps for a very long time? Pray that they’ll get lost – realize their spiritual lostness and bankruptcy and surrender to be found by the God whose love, grace and mercy have no limit. The apostle Paul, once very lost in his religious zeal, put it this way: “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Everyone’s a Potential Comeback Story

Comebacks. They are among the most inspiring, heart-tugging parts of the human experience. Someone who’d accomplished some things of note, then encountered major setbacks before overcoming those challenges to achieve greatness again.

 

Nowhere are comeback sagas more plentiful than in the world of sports. Tiger Woods’ victory in the Masters golf tournament in 2019 immediately comes to mind. After reaching the pinnacle of professional golf, he’d gone through adversity in many forms. Then, after years of struggle, Woods compiled a championship weekend to don his fifth green jacket.

 

Keith Byars about to throw a shoe
en route to the Illinois end zone.

My personal favorite comeback story – if you’ll indulge me for a moment – occurred on Oct. 13, 1984. On that date my alma mater, Ohio State, had fallen behind visiting Illinois 24-0 early in the second quarter. Since the Buckeyes had been upset by Purdue the previous Saturday, fans feared the worst. 

But the Scarlet and Gray staged a memorable comeback that included an amazing 67-yard touchdown run by running back Keith Byars, who lost a shoe on the way to the end zone. At game’s end, the scoreboard read: Ohio State 45, Illinois 38.

 

But we don’t have to be gifted athletes, or even avid spectators, to experience the thrills of a comeback. When we’ve messed up – really messed up – as we all have at one time or another, the God of mercy and grace stands firm, eager to restore and use us, sometimes in ways far beyond anything we could have imagined.

 

How do we know this? Because in the Bible we find story after story of people who, with God’s enabling power, were able to rise above shattered lives to be used by Him in wonderful, sometimes unlikely ways.

 

For Exhibit A, we can offer Joseph, the fair-haired son of Jacob. His father not only gave him a “richly ornamented robe” (Genesis 37:3) – known in other translations as the “coat of many colors” – but Joseph also boldly told his brothers of two dreams in which they would be bowing down before him. Not exactly the way to win the siblings’ popularity contest.

 

In a fit of jealousy, the brothers stripped Joseph of his robe and threw him into a cistern, then sold him to a passing caravan of merchants. Sold to Potiphar, a high-ranking Egyptian official, Joseph was making the best of a bad situation when falsely accused of sexual assault by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison. In essence, out of the Egyptian frying pan and into the Pharaoh’s fire.

 

However, that’s not the last we hear of Joseph. God providentially puts him into a position to become second-in-command in Egypt, answering only to Pharaoh. The one-time boastful brother becomes the instrument to save not only his family but also God’s chosen people, the nation of Israel, during a time of severe famine. He was named “Comeback of the Year” by Hieroglyphics Monthly.

 

Then we have Moses, a Hebrew raised in the household of another pharaoh. He was enjoying a royal life until forced to flee the country after killing an Egyptian in defense of a fellow Israelite. For the next 40 the one-time Egyptian prince performed the humbling duties of a sheep herder.

 

God decided that was enough time to prepare Moses. One day while leading his flock on Mount Horeb, “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush” – a bush that to Moses’ surprise did not burn up. Having his attention, God commissioned him to lead a different flock, the people of Israel, after four centuries of slavery in Egypt. 

 

A truly humble leader – Moses asked, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11) – God used him and his brother, Aaron, to accomplish the unthinkable.

 

There are numerous other examples in the Scriptures, including King David, the prophet Daniel, the apostles Peter and Paul, and others. In each case, the formula for making a “comeback” was simple: Humility; repentance; and determination to surrender to God’s will, no matter what it required.

 

Why should this matter to us? Because each of us is a potential comeback story. Perhaps you (or someone you know) grew up in a ‘Christian home’ where you attended church regularly, learned about Jesus Christ, read and studied the Bible, and yet have drifted away from the faith. After years of trying to make life work without God, it’s evident that isn’t working.

 

Is it possible to return? Read Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The Lord didn’t present the story of a father’s unconditional love for his wayward son for its entertainment value. It was to convey the eternal Father’s eagerness to welcome back those who have strayed for whatever reason.

 

Or perhaps at one time you were walking closely with the Lord, having a strong impact in the lives of others, but then became “burned out.” You took a spiritual “vacation” that has lasted a lot longer than you originally intended. Now you wonder whether God can ever use you again. 

 

I can think of no more encouraging Scripture passage than the words of King David after confessing his adulterous sin with Bathsheba. He prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12).

 

For anyone in need of a spiritual comeback, the Lord is always ready with two words: “Come back.”

What’s Even Worse Than Being Lost?

Some years ago, my wife and I spent several days visiting various sites in New York City. Among them was the American Museum of Natural History, an amazing array of displays that could occupy one’s time for days. From dinosaur bones and other prehistoric fossils to presentations about astronomy, it’s a magnet for the scientifically minded.

 

We enjoyed what we saw, but after a while decided that if you’ve seen one old bone you’ve seen them all. So, we exited the museum and headed across the street to Central Park, 1.3 acres of nature sprawling in the midst of an incredible concrete jungle. We planned to walk about a bit then go back to our midtown Manhattan hotel. One problem: I forgot to bring Gladys Penelope Snodgrass (GPS) with us.

 

We were enjoying the trees and flowers, along with Central Park Lake, presuming that before long we’d come out the other side and head toward Times Square. But navigating our way around the park wasn’t as simple as it seemed – especially for one directionally challenged as I am. We were making great time but going nowhere fast. 

I tried to ask a couple of joggers if we were going the right way, but quickly learned native New Yorkers aren’t inclined to offer any kind of assistance to strangers, no matter how harmless they might appear. So, we kept walking for about an hour until we saw a busy street, thinking we’d finally found our way. Only problem was, right across the street was…the American Museum of Natural History. We’d basically been lost, walking around in a circle, but didn’t know it.

 

That moment confirmed for me one basic truth (besides my directional disorientation): The only thing worse than being lost is not knowing you’re lost. Wandering around the park, we thought we knew exactly where we were, but we didn’t. 

 

Sadly, this is the plight of many people today, whether they’re trying to find their way around sprawling acreage like New York’s famous park or negotiating the journey through everyday life. They’re lost – but don’t know they’re lost.

 

A friend who was a very effective personal evangelist talked about the challenge of taking the good news of Jesus Christ to people. “Sometimes people have to get lost before they realize their need to be saved.” 

 

Imagine of an ambulance arriving in front of your home. There it sits, lights flashing and siren blaring, and you’re wondering, “What’s it doing there? I don’t need an ambulance. I’m fine.” But what if, unbeknownst to you, a heart attack was just minutes away?

 

In Luke 15, Jesus told three parables about lost things: Lost sheep, with a frantic shepherd leaving 99 sheep in his flock to find one that had wandered away; a lost coin, whose owner swept her house until she found it; and probably the most memorable, a lost son. 

 

In the latter parable, commonly known as the “prodigal son,” a young fellow had tired of waiting for his wealthy dad to die. So, he asked for – actually, demanded that he receive – his inheritance in advance. Talk about ingratitude and disrespect!

 

If you recall the story, this younger of two sons “squandered his wealth in wild living” (Luke 15:13). Unfortunately for him, his reckless spending came to an end when dad’s money ran out. Oh, dear, what to do? About this time, a severe famine struck the country he was in, so Peter Prodigal latched onto a bright idea – he would hire himself out to feed pigs. Talk about a drastic change in social standing! He even envied the slop the hogs were eating. Do you think he was lost?

 

Finally, in despair the young man decided to swallow his pride – which probably required a massive gulp – and crawl back home. Maybe his father would be merciful enough to make him one of the hired men.

 

The parable has the happiest of endings, with the father spotting the wayward son from afar, running to him and welcoming him back into the family. It’s a wonderful story that represents how God in His mercy and grace is eager to save and restore every “prodigal” who recognizes his or her lostness and returns to Him in humility and repentance.

 

But as my friend said, we must come to a realization that we’re lost before we can understand how desperately we need to be saved. This applies to each one of us, as well as people we know who are wandering around the confused, chaotic world somehow unaware that they’re lost.

Then we can sing with gusto the words of the beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace” – “I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I see.” 

Whenever We’ve Lost Our Way, Look For the Cross

The story is told of a little boy who wandered away home and couldn’t find his way back. Kind strangers found him crying and offered to take him to his house. But he didn’t know his address, so instead they took him to the local police station for help.

 

An officer patiently questioned him, trying to ascertain where he lived, but all the little boy was able to offer was his name. Then he remembered, “I live close to a church with a really big cross. If you take me to the cross, I can find my way home.”

 

Isn’t this a parable of where many people are as individuals, as well as our society? Feeling lost, desperately so. They – and we collectively – need to be taken to the Cross so we can find our way back home again.

 

This reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son in the gospel of Luke, chapter 15. The younger son, apparently tired of waiting for his father to die so he could collect his inheritance, insisted on receiving it in advance. “Father, give me my share of the estate” (Luke 15:12). The story doesn’t detail how the father felt in hearing such an outlandish, insulting request; Jesus simply said the father agreed and divided the property between his two sons.

 

The ungrateful son proceeded to squander his wealth on wild living, then fell on hard times when a severe famine hit the entire country. His despair became so deep, he hired himself to tend pigs and then envied the slop he was feeding them. Finally, the wayward young man rationalized: Why not return home, throw himself at his father’s mercy, and become a hired hand?

 

Instead, the father rejoiced at the son’s return, embracing and kissing him, and throwing a party to celebrate. There’s more to Jesus’ parable, but it ends with the father telling the indignant older brother, “we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32).

 

It’s not too difficult to imagine how God feels about much of what’s going on across our nation and around the world. We’ve taken His bountiful blessings without gratitude, and in effect have thumbed our noses at Him, declaring we don’t need Him and want Him out of our lives. We know what’s best for our lives. Or so we think.

 

However, it seems after wild, riotous living, hard times have come and more may be on the way. We’ve gone through a pandemic, fearing it might not be over. Inflation in general and gas prices in particular are emptying our wallets. Senseless violence spirals out of control. War and rumors of war have worn us out. Deeply rooted, conflicting worldviews have practically eliminated civil discourse. 

 

Our nation has never been perfect – and never claimed to be – but the press to dispense with the traditional values and beliefs that have served as the bedrock for our society has escalated beyond anything we could have imagined even 10 years ago.

 

Figuratively speaking, we might soon end up wallowing with the hogs. God, who is loving, but also holy, righteous and just, is patiently, expectantly waiting for us to recognize our need to return to the Cross and find our way home.

 

It seems we’re marching toward a state of overwhelming exhaustion; feelings of hopelessness and despair are not uncommon. Jesus says, “Come to Me, all who weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

 

Why should we return to the Lord? Because in Romans 5:8 we’re assured, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is a fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy that said, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40:1-2). Who among us is without sin?

 

As I write this, the word of the old hymn, “Softly and Tenderly,” come to mind: “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me…. Come home, come home, you who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!”

 

I wonder how much more folks will have to endure to respond to this invitation by our God to “come home”? Jesus also told several stories to warn that this invite has a deadline; one day it will be too late to respond. Who knows how close to it we might be even now? If you haven't done so already, look for the Cross.

The Pain, Privilege and Power of Waiting

Waiting. Whether idling at a traffic light, standing in a grocery store checkout line, or anticipating an important business call, most of us hate to wait. Patience isn’t a virtue in great supply. That is, unless our waiting involves someone or something we care about deeply.

Recently a speaker observed waiting can be an expression of love: The longer we’re willing to wait, the greater the measure of our love. For instance, sitting at a hospital bedside day after day, waiting for loved one to recover from a serious illness. A military wife anxiously anticipating her husband’s return after months of overseas deployment. A child staring out a window waiting for mom or dad to come home. 

Jesus’ parable of the lost son in Luke 15 tells the poignant story of a father waiting for a rebellious son to come home. This provides a vivid picture of how God the Father awaits the return of His prodigals. What great, undeserved love this demonstrates. A brilliant metaphor for His grace.

The desire of our waiting and longing, of course, isn’t always realized. Recently a friend lost his dear wife of more than 50 years to a long-term illness. Sometimes the hoped-for phone call never comes. But that doesn’t diminish the value of the love that inspires our willingness to wait.

When the expectations that undergird our waiting are fulfilled, feelings of joy have no match. Some friends had a critically ill daughter who waited weeks before she was physically ready to undergo major surgery. At last, the operation was performed, followed by a good prognosis. It was worth the wait.

Sometimes the desire that motivates us is directed to other objectives. People line up for 24 hours or more, wanting to be the first to latch onto the newest smartphone, or camp out for days to acquire tickets for their favorite musician’s concert. But how often do we demonstrate such love or devotion in waiting upon God?

Maybe we have to wait for Him to answer an urgent prayer. Other times it’s simply a matter of setting aside our busy schedules and everyday concerns to spend time with the Lord, reading and studying His Word, praying, meditating – and being quiet long enough for Him to speak to us. For many of us, this waiting is the hardest of all.

We tend to gauge our love for God by things we do: attending worship services; writing a check to support the work of His kingdom; participating in a service project; taking a short-term mission trip. But do we ever consider that the greatest measure of our love for Him is just spending time alone with Him?

In the Scriptures, particularly the Psalms, we see many examples of such love – and waiting. During one of his desert experiences, King David wrote, “O God, You are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1). How often is this the expression of our hearts?

Sometimes as we look at the world around us, we’re tempted to wonder, “Where is God in all this?” We can take heart when we read another declaration from David: “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:1). 

He also wrote, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:1).

Then there’s my favorite passage on waiting, one I’ve turned to repeatedly over the years: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes…. Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land, when the wicked are cut off, you will see it” (Psalm 37:7,34). I can only imagine King David, faced with strong opposition, clinging to promises such as these.

Most of us willingly wait for a good friend who is late for lunch, a client yet to arrive for a critical meeting, or for the doors to open on Black Friday to take advantage of special Christmas bargains. Do we love God enough that we’re willing to wait on Him, however long it takes?

Pondering the Prodigal’s Father

There’s no denying the impact the Bible has had on society, even though some are reluctant to admit it. Even in what has been termed this post-Christian, increasingly secularized age, we can’t ignore its influence, both in profound and not so profound ways.

We have Christmas, which traces its roots to a simple, inconspicuous birth more than 2,000 years ago in the Middle East. We’ve borrowed the term “good Samaritan” from one of Jesus’ parables. We’re all aware of the Ten Commandments, along with phrases such as “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and “love your neighbor as yourself.”

And then we have the story of the Prodigal Son, another of Jesus’ parables, about a selfish young man who demanded his inheritance well in advance of his father’s death. This ingrate proceeded to squander his wealth, and then went back home, humbled and broken by his foolishness, reckless living, and gross disrespect for his loving father.

In non-religious contexts we hear of “prodigals,” people who in like manner return from times of rebellion. Countless books and messages have focused on the prodigal son. Writers and speakers also have addressed the sibling who remained home dutifully working for his father while the prodigal brother was engaging in a raucous lifestyle that culminated up in the company of pigs. They ponder how this brother responded when Mr. Prodigal came home to the welcoming embrace of their father.

But what about the prodigal’s father?

We don’t know a lot about him. We can only surmise. We do know the father surrendered the son’s share of the inheritance when it was requested. He could have refused, but didn’t. And we know when the family’s black sheep finally stumbled homeward, the father didn’t wait on the front porch, arms folded, mouth twisted into a scowl. He hurried to greet the son, enfolding him with unconditional, forgiving love. Then, so everyone else could share in the good news, the father called for a lavish, impromptu celebration.

Jesus’ telling of this story is recounted in Luke 15, along with parables about a lost sheep and a lost coin. Each account shows the sheer joy of recovering what was lost. And ultimately, in the prodigal’s father we see the response of our Heavenly Father, whom we have so often avoided, rejected, even attempted to flee. Yet, whenever one of His children returns – often bruised to the point of despair, much like the Bible’s prodigal son – God’s response is not condemnation or vindictiveness, but the same unconditional love and forgiveness.

Have you ever been a “prodigal”? Many of us have. And for a time we were able to convince ourselves we were doing just fine without God, And yet, as the psalmist wrote, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there…” (Psalm 139:7-16).

Thankfully, while we may give up on God at times, He never gives up on us. When we determine it’s time to return to Him, we find Him right there, eagerly waiting to receive us. Then we can say, as the psalmist concludes, “How precious for me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them…. When I awake, I am still with you” (Psalm 139:17-18).

In Jeremiah 31:3 we’re told, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” And that, for those of us who are inclined toward wayward, rebellious thinking and living, is good news. Really good news.

Time to Hit the Reset Button?

With the relentless advance of our technological society, what would we ever do without the reset button?

Computers have a reset (or “restart”) button, handy for whenever they start acting erratically or decide to freeze up. In most cases we can “reset” and the computer’s running smoothly again. Twice a year, for Daylight Savings Time and Daylight Losing Time (better known as Standard Time), most of us reset our digital clocks, moving an hour forward or backward as the calendar ordains. And if you ever have to replace your car battery, it’s necessary to reset the programmed “presets” on the radio for your preferred stations. In each case, it’s like starting over.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a reset button for life?

I was reminded of this while listening to a commentary on the prodigal son, a parable Jesus told in Luke 15. You might recall the story about a son demanding his inheritance from his father even though “dad” was still very much alive. Adding insult to injury, the son squandered his premature fortune on riotous, irresponsible living, ending up in his own personal “bay of pigs” long before anyone had ever heard of Cuba or a missile crisis.

Finally coming to his senses, the still-young man decided to return home, realizing he couldn’t possibly expect to be restored to his family. But even taking on the role of a household servant would be a vast improvement over wallowing with the hogs.

Jesus’ story takes an unexpected turn, however, when instead of being angry or vindictive, the father runs – ignoring the social norm of the day – and welcomes his long-lost son, forgiving his previous ingratitude and disrespect. He even declared an impromptu party for celebrating the prodigal’s return. In a lavish demonstration of unconditional, undeserved love, the father was letting his son hit the “reset” button of his life.

Have you ever wished you could hit “reset” for wherever you are in your own life – to make a fresh start and repair a damaged relationship, redirect a struggling or unfulfilling career, undo unwise financial investments, or revisit poor personal choices that proved disastrous?

The amazing thing about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is He does just that. He provide the way to reset our lives, being able to make a fresh start. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”

This doesn’t mean our past is erased. Sometimes the consequences of bad decisions remain. But we’re given the opportunity to experience a new and very different present and future if we desire that. It’s a wonderful truth and promise, even though it takes a lifetime to grasp it fully and experience it by faith.

We see this assurance repeatedly in the Scriptures, both Old Testament and New. In Isaiah 43:18-19, God declares, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

So the next time you find yourself wishing you could hit the “reset” button in your life, reflect on these and other assurances of new life in Christ we find in the Bible. As another translation of 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Old things have disappeared, and – look! – all things have become new!”

What if we really believed this – and acted upon it? What difference could it make? Wouldn’t it be interesting to find out?

The Person of Every Year

TIME magazine recently announced its annual “Person of the Year,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The European head of state was selected over seven other final candidates, but for many of us, we’re poised to celebrate the One who could rightly be called “The Person of Every Year.”

We would be hard-pressed to identify anyone that’s ever walked the earth who has had greater impact than Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate each Christmas. For those of us who identify ourselves as followers of Christ, or “Christians,” He is our leader, teacher, example, inspiration, and guide. The Bible describes Jesus as Savior, Lord, the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, the Great Physician, and many other names. Perhaps I’ve left out one of your favorites.

But even for those who don’t profess faith in Christ, even those who vehemently reject Him and His claims to be the Son of God, God incarnate, Jesus’ influence in all of our lives remains unmistakable.

Consider: From time to time the secular media refer to someone who willingly volunteers to help a stranger, even at personal peril, as a “good Samaritan.” In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan to illustrate what He meant when commanding His followers to “love your neighbor as yourself.” That phrase itself has become a virtual cliché, regularly used by people of many faiths – and no faith – to assert our obligation to show compassion, mercy and generosity to those less fortunate than ourselves.

The so-called “Golden Rule,” which admonishes us to “do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12), is another of Jesus’ declarations – downright revolutionary for His time. It’s employed with abandon by those who insist on tolerance for all people, except perhaps for those who believe in and follow the One who said it first.

From time to time we’ll hear about a “prodigal son” who returns to a family, a company, even a political party, after a time of “going astray.” Jesus didn’t use the term “prodigal,” but it comes from another of His parables, also referred to as the parable of the lost son or the two sons, found in Luke 15:11-32.

Jesus was unparalleled in His ability to use what writers call “verbal imagery,” communicating a truth through a vivid oral account. A picture on which to hang a principle. Perhaps this is why so many people remember His stories, even if they don’t understand or dismiss His theology.

Sometimes we hear people being described disparagingly as thinking too much of themselves – “she must think she walks on water.” Jesus did this literally, as recounted in Matthew 14:22-33. And more than one business executive has declared, “I sweat blood to get that account,” a phenomenon Jesus experienced the night before His crucifixion: “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

Of course, Jesus’ uniqueness goes far beyond the words He spoke and His activities on earth. He is the only leader of any religion or belief system reported to have died and then be resurrected. Mohammad, Buddha, Moses, Confucius and others don’t and can’t make that claim.

He boldly declared, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father (God) except through me” (John 14:6), and also stated, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). As C.S. Lewis stated, making such statements would mean Jesus either was a liar, a lunatic, or who He said He was – God in the flesh.

And to those who would accept His gift of forgiveness for their sins, possible only by His atoning death on the cross, Jesus made this promise: "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).

So as we gather this Christmas with family, friends and loved ones, along with the familiar traditions we have adopted through the years, let’s not stop at reflecting on the pastoral scene of a young mother and father, and a baby in a crude feeding trough – hardly fitting accommodations for the One who would become known as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Let’s remember that Jesus Christ truly was – and is – like no other. He’s not the person of the year; for many of us, He’s the person of every year.

The Joy of Finding What You’ve Lost

Few things are worse than losing something important.

Do you know why things you’ve lost or misplaced are always in the last place you look? Because after you find them, you stop looking. (No one has ever accused me of failing to recognize the obvious!) But what about losing something important and feeling much relief when you looked in that “last place,” and there it was?

We’ve all those moments: Being in a hurry to leave, wondering where the car keys are. Planning to go food shopping and unable to find the grocery list. Being all dressed for the concert when a panicky thought sets in: “Where are the tickets?”

Once I’d planned to use a quote from magazine article in a column, but lost the article. It was before the Internet (can you remember back that far?), so I couldn’t retrieve it online. I managed to obtain a photocopy of the piece. Then I lost it again! (Sometimes I think some black hole swallows up some of the stuff we misplace, along with the occasional odd sock.)

A sense of loss seems most acute when what we’re seeking has considerable value: an expensive piece of jewelry, a wallet, or a book that has meant a lot to us. Losing keepsakes can be particularly troubling, being irreplaceable. Maybe a cherished old family photo. A unique gift received from a loved one that holds much sentimental value. Or perhaps a special letter or note that arrived when greatly needed.

Interestingly, Jesus talked about keepsakes and the agony of losing them. In Luke 15, He talked about a shepherd who had 100 sheep and left them to seek one that had strayed. Next He cited a woman who lost one of her 10 silver coins. She searched until she found it, then threw a party. Finally He told about the lost son, a parable known as “the Prodigal Son.”

In the parable of the son, a wealthy father yields to a son’s demand to be given his portion of the inheritance. Since his father was living, essentially the son was implying, “I wish you were dead, so I could have your money.”

The wayward son leaves town, squanders the considerable fortune he had received, survives in squalor for a time, and then decides to return home, humble himself before his father and hope he’d hire him as a servant.

Instead, as the son approaches in the distance, the father spots him. Despite the circumstances of his son’s departure, he rushes to him and offers a warm, welcoming embrace. And then throws an impromptu feast to celebrate the long-awaited return.

Some people might regard these stories as sentiments about the happy moment of recovering things lost. But in them Jesus gives His followers a glimpse of the heart of God. Because in the Lord’s sight, most of us – if not all – are or have been prodigals, wandering away and pursuing our own desires. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

Most of all, these stories present God as a seeker. He eagerly and persistently seeks us, even when we have no interest in being found by Him.

The shepherd could have concluded, “I’ve still got 99 sheep. That one’s more trouble than it’s worth, anyway.” But he didn’t. The woman still had nine coins, but was relentless until she clutched the 10^th coin in her hand – and then wanted to share the good news with her friends. And the father, despite the great emotional pain his rebellious son’s departure must have inflicted, didn’t wait with arms folded, telling his son upon his return, “Well, I suppose you’ve seen the light. Now you want me to act as if nothing happened?”

No, the father was overjoyed by the son's return. In fact, he couldn’t wait for his arrival. He ran to him, hugged and kissed him, and immediately made him guest of honor for a very special shindig.

We sometimes hear of people making a “decision for Christ,” or “committing my life to Jesus.” And this is legitimate. Jeremiah 29:13 states, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” But the Scriptures clearly show even when we want nothing to do with God, He diligently seeks us.

When tax collector Zacchaeus turned from his past life to follow Christ, Jesus responded, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). At the conclusion of His story of the shepherd hunting for the lost sheep, He said, “In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18:14).

At the core, these are stories of mercy and grace, truths we can embrace ourselves. Often we don’t want to find God – He’s the last place we want to look. Like the prodigal son, we deserve to be disowned by God, but He doesn’t do it. We certainly don’t deserve His unconditional love and acceptance, but He gives them still. What could be better news than that?

Lessons from an Old Book

Recently I was thinking – as is my habit, and also the title of this blog – about people that talk about how antiquated and irrelevant they perceive the Bible to be. It’s a thousands-of-years-old book, they say, written and compiled in a totally different time, culture and environment. It no longer relates to contemporary living, they contend.

That’s interesting, because many of the values and principles we’ve embraced as a society – even today – can be traced to the Scriptures. Consider:

People are quick to say, "Love your neighbor." Where does that come from? The Bible, found in Mark 12:31. By the way, when Jesus made this enduring declaration, He described it as “the second greatest commandment.” What was the first and greatest commandment? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). With that established, He then said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

People are also not hesitant to say we should, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Where does that come from? The Bible, quoted in Luke 6:31.

We hear heart-touching stories about "good Samaritans," people who go out of their way – and sometimes risk considerable danger – to assist complete strangers. Where does that come from? The Bible, as part of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, recorded in Luke 10:25-37!

From time to time we hear or read about someone straying away the strong values and practices of his or her family, but then returning after a time and being restored. We commonly refer to this person as a “prodigal son” (or daughter). Where does that come from? Of course, the Bible, a touching account also known as the parable of the lost son, told by Jesus and recounted in Luke 15:11-32.

Even in the entertainment world, movie titles unflinchingly use the term “sin,” and Las Vegas is nicknamed “Sin City.” Where does the notion of sin come from? The Bible, from front cover to back cover, describing humankind’s rebellion against God and proclivity for defying His laws that were intended for our own good.

There are many other examples I could cite, but I think I’ve made my point. It amazes me how easily – and in my opinion, ignorantly – people can choose to dismiss the Bible as being archaic, no longer applicable for life in the 21^st century. There are many books we consider classics today, and while they remain good to read, they don’t relate to life as we know it.

But the Bible? Even though some would vehemently argue to the contrary, I’m convinced it’s as timeless and eternal as the God who inspired its writing. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).