LOST AND FOUND

Carolina was the eldest of three dearly loved children. Her parents, Ricardo and Stella were pillars in the church in Bucaramanga, Colombia where my family called home for nearly seven years. They were faithful students of the word and to this day continue to serve God and others unceasingly.

It was nearly nightfall when the call came. There were strangers on the other end of the line telling how they had found a little girl, about three years old, wandering on the sidewalks downtown. All they knew was that her name was Carolina and in her play purse was a small piece of paper that contained our phone number. My wife and I knew immediately who it was and we told them that we knew her parents and were friends of the family. They agreed to meet us and when we arrived, we found the young girl to be in good spirits and glad to see a familiar face. After much questioning they allowed her to leave with us.

We then drove her to her parents' home where we found the mother, Stella sick with worry. I mean, she was so sick that she had to be put to bed. You see, in Colombia, it is not unusual for children to be picked up for ransom or sold in other countries. Stella had been searching high and low throughout the entire afternoon, franticly calling friends and family, looking up and down the streets for her baby girl, but to no avail. When we arrived, you have never seen such a jubilant set of parents as on that day. There was screaming and crying for the sheer joy of being united again. Mom, dad and daughter hugged each other, clung to each other as if to never let go. That which was lost was now found.

That's exactly how God feels when one of his children returns home to Him. He rejoices when people who are caught up in sin, decide to repent and turn their lives around for good. He is jubilant when one turns from those things or relationships that would destroy both body and soul, but instead says yes to righteousness and to God. How do I know? Just listen to what the Bible says about things lost:

"there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent… there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents…but we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is now found,"-Luke 15:7, 10, 32.

That which was lost was found. When it's a child, there is reason for joy. You just have to celebrate!

Tom Nuckels
October 31, 2004