Lost and Found: You are His Treasure

 

November 15, 2022

“Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate,” Luke 15:23-24

"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day," John 6:39

As some of you may know, Missy and I have opened our own online store on Ebay. It’s called Wildcat Wares and Wonders. You can check it out here: Wildcat Wares and Wonders | eBay Stores. (Missy and Ryan did a stellar job creating it!)

The way we are building our business is by finding “treasures” that others have thrown away or have been lost to time. One person’s junk is certainly another’s treasure!

It can be fascinating what you find.

But, it can also be a little depressing and sad when you realize that someone has discarded or cast aside an item that truly meant something to someone at some time.

This past weekend Missy purchased a beautiful vintage pitcher. Gorgeous colors, no chips, and a part of history.

It made its way to our house and I began to wash and clean it up. I took the top off only to find someone’s red and white graduation tassel from 1982 inside the pitcher - and an Honor Society Golden Cord.

Someone’s history had been hidden away and forgotten. (And no, there is no way for us to retrace the steps to find the original owner). Like I said, sad.

Cast aside. Neglected. Hidden away. Forgotten.

Thank God he does not do that to us. To his creation. To his beloved.

In the scriptures above we see that sometimes we do get lost.
    Lost in life.
        Lost in our decisions.
            Lost in life’s often harsh moments.
                Lost on our way.

Yet, we are never truly, completely lost.

We all have a “heavenly Father” who is ever ready to run to us as he does to every wayward child who longs for home.

We all have a “Son of the heavenly Father” who will never lose his grip on us. Even in death - we are not lost. He will remember us. He will lift us up once again.

It is reassuring to know someone remembers you. Remembers what we are going through. Remembers we are only human. Remembers we often get lost - and need someone to come and find us, bring us home, clean us up and feed us.

Perhaps that is why Jesus spends time in Luke 15 talking about:
    The lost sheep. 

        The lost coin. 

            The lost son.

It’s unfortunate but true we mostly focus on what is already found. But, oh the joy we receive when we go out and find that which was lost and bring it home! It’s why in Luke 15 the purpose is not to point out that which was lost, but rather bring to our attention that each thing which was lost (even the son) was eventually found - and the celebrations which followed each return!

And, better than a beautiful multi-colored pitcher, is the fact that we can go and find the people (created in the image of God) who are lost, bring them home and rejoice that “That which was lost has been found! It’s time to celebrate!”

And, one last word: You are his greatest treasure…

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God, Romans 5:8-11