The Ultimate Find

“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:24 NIV

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 NIV

“I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.” Amazing Grace, John Newton

Our security alarm system has been acting up for the past three or four weeks. I kept putting off calling the security company because I’m often a procrastinator in that area of my life. But I finally called, and a lovely lady—a real person—helped me troubleshoot.

Within a few minutes, most of the alarm issues were corrected through a series of technical maneuvers that I followed. However, I was informed that one of the sensor batteries on a nearby window needed to be replaced. Recalling that I had purchased batteries for the window sensors a year or two ago, I proceeded to look for them in the most likely place: the kitchen junk drawer. As I was unloading the drawer, hoping to find the needed battery, I found old batteries, but not the kind I was looking for. In the drawer was also a receipt dated 2016, six pairs of scissors—with only one pair being kitchen scissors, light bulbs, wire cutters (hubby said he had been looking for those—not sure what decade it was when he last used wire cutters), birthday candles, bulldog clips, Super Glue, old packets of ketchup, etc., etc. You talk about a variety of things; it was amazing! I shook my head, got busy, and felt a sense of accomplishment as most of the drawer’s contents went into the trash can when my task was completed. It was a good feeling to begin all over again with a clean drawer that only held the things for which it was designed—oven mitts and pot holders.

Tackling the junk drawer was a blessing in disguise because I found something that had been lost for six or seven years—a Brighton ring that I had purchased in the early 2000s at a little gift shop in East Texas. The ring wasn’t very expensive, but it held sentimental value to me. For a long time, I kept hoping to miraculously find the ring, but finally gave up on my futile attempts. How it ended up in the junk drawer is a mystery to me.

My surprise find would never come close to any spiritual comparison, but when I held the ring in my hand, I was reminded of the timeless old hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Don’t ask me to explain that; it’s just how my mind works. One word or thought triggers another, and before I know it, I’ve got the beginning of a story churning around in my ever active brain. “I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.” From that, the story of the prodigal son came to mind.

Luke, Chapter 15, is a powerful illustration of the joy that comes with repentance. The father’s heart overflowed with joy when his son, who was lost in unrighteous living, returned home destitute and desperate. The father’s joy was not just a fleeting emotion but a profound expression of love for his son. This story is a vivid reminder of the depth of God’s love and the joy He experiences when we, like the prodigal son, turn toward Him and come Home. We who are followers of Jesus Christ can rejoice that through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, He pursued us, found us just as we were, and called us to Himself. We were lost sheep in need of a Shepherd. He left the ninety-and-nine and came after us. He offered us green pastures, peaceful rest, and restoration for our souls. How good is that!

Can you imagine the celebration in heaven when someone on earth invites Jesus Christ into their heart to be their Lord and Savior? Luke 15:10 tells us there is rejoicing in the presence of God’s angels over just one sinner who repents. While we can’t fully grasp what these moments in heaven look like, we can be confident that such divine love and unbridled joy exceed our wildest imagination.

Much like the kitchen drawer I cleaned out, there is so much unnecessary junk surrounding us in this world—things that aren’t useful to us spiritually as we endeavor to abide in Christ—to give Him all that we are or ever hope to be. It seems to me that it’s a good idea to clean out the junk drawers of our minds and hearts and not allow clutter and distraction to build up, thereby casting a film of apathy and confusion over what otherwise can be a glorious relationship with the One who is always desirous of our love and affection. When it’s all been said and done, the absolute truth is that knowing Jesus Christ and having a personal relationship with Him is, and will always be, the ultimate find. It is an eternal gift to those who accept it.

Today, I am also reminded to listen to my internal security alarm system—the Holy Spirit. When there’s a spiritual malfunction, I will ask the Lord to help me troubleshoot, knowing that He has the wisdom, knowledge, and strong desire to get me up and running smoothly again on my daily walk of faith. I pray that you will do the same.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are so much more than we can comprehend, but we love and trust You above all else. Thank You for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. You are generous, merciful, and full of grace. Please grant us a heart and head full of wisdom so that we might serve You to the fullest each day we live. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.