Lost, but now I’m found
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Lost, but now I’m found
By: Pastor David Grove
“Amazing Grace” is one of the most beloved Christian hymns of all time, and I’m persuaded that it is because everyone can relate to its message: I once was lost, but now I’m found. Life is hard and filled with many challenges, and it’s easy to go astray. But we have a loving God who loves us right where we are in life, and we can rest assured that we no longer have to feel lost.
Every year, millions of items are placed in lost-and-found bins at airports, with up to 100,000 items being left behind in security bins every single month nationwide. Each item that is left behind represents a piece of someone’s life, and when that item is lost, it feels as though a part of that person is missing as well. No one likes to lose anything, and we rejoice when whatever was lost is finally found.
In Luke 15, Jesus gives three illustrations about being lost and then being found. The first is the lost sheep and how the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine who are safe and cared for in order to search for the one sheep that has gone astray. When the sheep is found, there is great celebration.
The second illustration is the lost coin. The woman in this story was likely not concerned only about the monetary value of the coin, which amounted to about two weeks’ wages, but more about what it represented. In biblical times, a woman would often wear ten silver coins as a decorative headband or necklace to symbolize marriage. When she lost one of the coins, she went into a major spring-cleaning mode. It would be much like losing your wedding ring today—you would do everything possible to find it. The coin held deep sentimental value because it represented who she was and her marital status.
Both illustrations teach us the importance of never giving up on something that is lost, and when it is found, we are to celebrate. These parables also show us the importance of never giving up on someone who does not yet have a relationship with Jesus. We are to continue doing all we can to help them see how deeply they are loved by God and His desire to have a relationship with them.
The third parable is about the lost son—the one who was no longer content with his life, so he ran off to what he thought were greener pastures. This young man wanted to live out his wildest dreams, throw caution to the wind, and do whatever he pleased. Sound familiar? Many people today have the same mindset: “I’m going to do whatever I want.” Just as the outcome was not favorable for this young man, it is not favorable for many people today either.
This young man lost everything to the point that he would have gladly eaten the food given to the pigs. He had reached the lowest point in his life. Then, according to verse 17, “he came to his senses.” He realized how foolish he had been, and he knew it was time to go home.
What happened next would have surprised him. As he journeyed home, he saw a figure coming toward him from a distance—it was his father. During that time, it was considered highly undignified for an adult male to make such public displays of affection. But the father did not care about cultural standards. His son had finally come home after being gone so long, and it was time to celebrate.
Notice how the father never scolded his son for what he had done. Instead, he loved him, provided for him, and reminded him that he was still part of the family. This story beautifully represents who God is and how He responds when someone who was dead in sin, someone who had wandered far away, finally comes home.
God does not turn His back on the person who humbles themselves before Him. He pours out unconditional love on those who come to Him with a truly repentant heart. Just as the father celebrated the return of his son, the other two parables also speak of celebration. Heaven rejoices when even one person repents of their sins and places their trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
You may feel lost, abandoned, unworthy, or as though there is no way out. But I want to tell you today that God is standing and waiting for you to come home to Him. He is waiting with outstretched arms to bring you close and remind you how much He loves you.
Just as you would do everything possible to recover something precious that was lost, God did everything necessary to provide a way for you to come to Him. He sent His one and only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, into this world to die upon the cross so that we could have eternal life and know the depth of His love for us. All of this is made possible because of His amazing grace.
You no longer need to feel lost, because Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
Reach out to Him. Repent of your sins and surrender your life to Him today, and I promise you, you will never again feel truly lost, abandoned, or unloved.
God’s Amazing Grace saved a wretch like me, and because of this, I choose to keep:
JESUS FIRST in All Things
With JOY in JESUS,
Pastor David