We lose money, we lose weight, we lose opportunities. We lose all kinds of things--but we only seek to save those lost things that are important to us.  If I'm fumbling in my pocket and drop a penny, I'm probably not too concerned if I can't find it. However, if I'm fumbling in that same pocket and drop a ten dollar bill, I'm going to look until I find it, or struggle over where might be--maybe even retrace my steps looking. Almost daily I lose my keys, and that brings on a panic--until they're found I can't drive, get in my home, open my classroom, or lock up the gym. I have a friend who says, "Of all the things I've lost in my life, I miss my mind the most." A couple of days ago, a sixth grade boy was lost, causing panic among a large population of the school.  Many parents and students looked until the boy was again safe at home. We seek after, even agonize over, those lost things that are important to us.

As the tax collectors and sinners gathered around Jesus, He told these stories:
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep'" (Luke 15:4-7); Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not 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'" (Luke 15:8-9); "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything he had, there was a severe famine in that whole country and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 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 back 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 your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate" (Luke 15:11-24).

Jesus' audience here is important. Remember, he spoke in front of the tax collector's and sinners--the bad guys! He was emphasizing to them that they were important and that they were salvageable. "I tell you there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10).  Jesus brought hope to the lost that they didn't need to remain lost and that someone was seeking them--the One who could save them.

In the third story of the lost son, there are many important issues.  First of all, in this society, a father might divide his estate among his sons before his death, a double portion to the older son, and live off a portion of the income until his death while that older son worked that portion of the estate and also made a living. It was very unusual for a younger son to get anything at all until the death of his father, so the request of the younger son was as much as to tell his father that all he was worth to the younger son was what he could give him. Still, the father went along with it. We don't know, but maybe he did it to teach his younger son a much needed lesson. Then after a while, the younger son "got together all he had, and set off." The story doesn't say that he sold the land, but that he took the portable wealth from it, and probably any gifts or family heirlooms he may have possessed. He went to a distant country where he lived sinfully and over-spent and became saturated with the world system. He dirtied the good name of his father as he lived sinfully. He became so calloused to his worldly living, that he was even willing to care for pigs to earn a living. Caring for the pigs would have been repugnant to a good Jew, because pigs were unclean animals and would make unclean anyone who had contact with them. But those pigs were acceptable to the rest of the world, and that worldly, sinful life had become such a part of him that he decided, why not? He had to make a living, didn't he? How often have we compromised our biblical teachings because we have lived in the world so long that it no longer seems to be that bad? How often have we come to church on Sunday, only to go into a "far country" on Monday to spend the week dirtying our Father's good name? What made the difference in this son's life was 1) his willingness to take responsibility for his mistakes; 2) his willingness to ask forgiveness and repent before his father; and 3) the unconditional love of the father for his child, and the wisdom to let the son take the first step toward reconciliation. Note that the son realized that he may not ever be restored to son-status again; he didn't come back expecting that his family owed him anything after his great mistakes; he absolutely overcame his pride. Amazing how our pride can seem so unimportant when we literally face death.  This was a comment on those Pharisees and teachers of the law who muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:2). They were like the older, unforgiving son who got angry at the restoration of his younger sibling, and who did not display the most important teaching of his father--love.

At some point in our lives, we are all like the lost sheep--helpless and alone, wandering far from the flock, or the lost coin--separated from the one who needs and treasures us, or the lost son--deliberately walking in rebellion.  Before Jesus comes into our hearts, we are all lost as a ball in high weeds.  But thanks be to God for His great gift in Christ Jesus who came not only to seek, but to save the lost!

Most Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You that You looked past time from the beginning and saw my wanderings and rebellion, and came after me anyway. Thank you for Your blood that has washed me clean and restored me to right relationship with You.  Help me each day to walk more worthy of Your sacrifice and your high calling. Amen