Seeking and Finding

At one time or another we've all misplaced some item, like car keys, a cell phone, a ring, or the like. Then, watch out!--we turn the house or office upside down, frantically searching for that thing we think we can't live without. More often than not it's found sooner or later, under a seat cushion or a pile of mail, or maybe even right in plain sight where we just overlooked it. What relief and exhiliration we feel when that happens!  Of course, sometimes what we seek is never found, and on top of all the time and effort expended looking we have to spend money to replace the item, if it's replacable at all.

"Seeking" is an inescapable and important--if often an aggravating and even agonizing--part of life. It extends from looking for lost objects to deciding what career to pursue, searching for a mate, or discerning what our purpose in life is. Sometimes we do it consciously, but often it's more like an irresistable current in the hidden depths of our minds and hearts.  And so often that all that seeking seems to lead nowhere but a dead end. Even a "successful" person may not really find the lasting fulfillment he or she was looking for, but discover too late that all his or her hard-won conquests were hollow. Sometimes, one spends everything he or she has in time, money, and even friends, only to make that mortifying discovery in the end.

That's why I love the Lord's "Lost and Found" stories so much, especially those in Luke ch. 15--the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, the Lost (or "Prodigal") Son. These stories hold many lessons, but at least one of them, I believe, is how we do, and should, assess the value of things. Of course, the missing piece of silver that the woman swept her whole house to find (Luke 15:8-10) was undoubtedly of great value to her--maybe it was a tenth of all the funds she had--and its recovery fully justified a celebration with her friends and neighbors. So much more so, said the Lord, was there "joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Even more compelling is the story of that one Lost Sheep, in which the Shepherd left all of his other 99 to find and bring home. Likewise, the Lord said, "joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." And then there is the story of the Prodigal Son, who left home and spent all his inheritance in "riotous living," and then had to crawl back to his father in sorrow and rags. The father might have shut him out in anger for having wasting all that wealth, but instead received him back with forgiveness and joy--much to the chagrin of the young man's more responsible brother--proclaiming, "for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found!" Surely this is one of the most touching and revealing passages in all Scripture. For it, and the other parables spoken by Jesus in Luke 15, demonstrate that one repentant soul returned to the Lord is worth infinitely more in the Kingdom of God than any amount of wealth or honor, or even a whole lifetime of outwardly "righteous" conduct (remember that these paragbles were told to a crowd of "publicans and sinners" in the presence of Pharisees and scribes who "murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.")

So, never give yourself up for "lost."  Never doubt your worth in the Lord's eyes, no matter what you may have done or failed to do--you're already bought and paid for, with His life. And not only are you worth seeking and reclaiming: unlike a hunt for car keys or for fame and glory, your own search after God, if sincere, is guaranteed successful: "[Y]e shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."  (Jeremiah 29:13)  He will always be there, waiting eagerly with open arms for His prodigal son or daughter to return. As Christ Himself said:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh

it shall be opened.
~  Matthew 7:6-8

Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises