Searching for what's lost
I spent my entire day searching for something of great worth. And by entire day, I mean 12 solid hours. And by something of great worth, I mean change-the-rest-of-your-life valuable. My dad misplaced it. He is struggling with significant memory loss and our family is finding itself in a new season as we help him cope. I am on a mission to locate this misplaced item and redeem it for all it’s worth in his life.
But the search is not easy. My dad is unable to offer me any tips. He has zero recollection of it. He currently lives four hours away from me (up and over the Rockies), which makes the search that much more difficult. I’m committed to investigating every literal and figurative nook and cranny in his life until I find it.
As I was driving home from his house tonight the Lord reminded me of another person who searched and searched for something of great worth. Luke 15:8-10 says, “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The parable is one of three relating to lost items in Luke 15. They all speak to the great rejoicing that is had when something or someone who is lost is found. They all paint a picture of a loving Shepherd, woman, or Father who searches diligently for what is lost. The Seeker pursues relentlessly and does not rest until the lost and helpless item is found. And when it is found and restored, the celebration is limitless.
The reminder of the parable thrilled me because my dad has not yet been found by the Seeker. That is a far greater sadness to me than the lostness of the material wealth for which I am looking. I pray daily that he will indeed be found by Christ and enjoy the position of peace, joy, forgiveness, and security that is only available to those who are found by Him.
These three parables remind me that God is searching. He is watching with compassion and runs towards us while we are yet a long way off (Luke 15:20). He’s a relentless pursuer of lost souls. While I hope and pray to find the lost item so that it might change my dad’s life, I long even more for God to find my dad and change his eternity.
My dad and me, just a few years ago.