LOST AND FOUND
In July of 2002 nine miners were trapped in Quecreek, Pa when mine shafts collapsed due to floodwater. The men were trapping in a pocket of air 244 feet down in the 50-degree cold waters. The miners gasped for air as floodwater rose to their chins. They tied themselves together so all of their bodies would be found if they drowned. Miner Blaine Mayhugh, 31, asked his boss for a pen when the water in the shaft kept rising. He wanted to write his wife and kids to tell them he love them. Night and day rescuers fought to reach the men. On Sunday July 28, 2002 the rescue workers broke through the coal-mine wall to find the nine trapped miners all alive and well. I still remember the news report that day. People were weeping and cheering at village roadsides and television sets at the news that the trapped miners had been rescued. There was great celebration.
Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "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? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 8 "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? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Jesus used these three stories to address the comment that “this man welcomes sinners”. Each of these stories, including the story of the prodigal son which follows this has a similar message. They deal with the pain of losing something, the joy in finding it and the celebration that takes place when lost things get found.
Why is there rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents? Why do the angels get so excited every time someone is saved? It is because the angels can see what you and I often don’t. They see:
1. What You Have Been Saved From – being lost
The word for hell occurs 23 times in the new testament (KJV). There are basically 2 words or pictures used. The first word is used 12 times and is the Hebrew word GEHENAH which comes from the words GEHEE (valley) and HINNOM (sorrow). The Valley of Hinnom was a garbage dump south of Jerusalem where garbage and dead animals were taken to be burned. The smell of decay and death must have been terrible. It was the worst possible place a Jew could imagined.
The picture of fire is often associated with hell. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus the rich man is in agony in fire and longs for a drink. Jesus spoke of hell as a place of fire. In Revelations we see that hell itself will be thrown into the lake of fire.
The second word which is used 10 times in the New Testament is the Greek word HADES which comes from HA (not) and EIDO (to see or perceive by any of the senses).
When I was in University I lived in a basement apartment without a window. It was completely dark except for one little light from my stereo system which would light up the room. What would total darkness be like?
A family visited a cave in the state of Kentucky. The guide led us through many beautiful and winding subterranean passageways. Suddenly he turned off all the lights and said, "I'm the only one who knows how to get back to the entrance. If I left you here, you'd probably never find your way out. Anyone lost in this cave would no doubt become insane within a week from the oppressive loneliness. Be quiet for a moment and feel the darkness!" I remember my youngster clutching my arm. After about 30 seconds, someone in the party could endure it no longer and cried out, "Turn on the lights! I'm going crazy now!" The guide laughed, but we'll not soon forget that frightening experience. I thought of the "outer darkness" of Hell and shuddered!
Whatever the word or picture we use one thing is very clear - Hell is a reality. It is a place of unbearable pain and unimaginable darkness and loneliness. Hell is terrible not because of the presence of evil but because of the absence of God. There is no mental image we can draw upon to adequately picture it. I have heard people say before “This is Hell”, but they are very wrong.
Many people today deny the existence of Hell because it does not match their view of God. They see it as a place of punishment but it really is not. It is a place of choice. God gave man a choice and to run from God is to run to the only place in creation where God is not present which is Hell.
Have you ever seen that TV show Big brother. There is a camera in every room so people are always watching you. But say that there was no camera in the closet. Choosing to hide from the cameras would mean choosing the closet. The torture of Hell is not due so much to the presence of evil as to the absence of good. Darkness is dark simply because there is no light.
Ruthanna Metzgar was a professional singer who was invited to sing at the wedding of a very wealthy man. The wedding and reception was on the top 2 floors of Seattle’s Columbia tower. She and her husband Roy were excited about attending. After the wedding the guest headed up a set of stairs to the hall where the reception would be. At the door was a man greeting people and checking to see if their name was on the guest list. When she arrived at the door she announced her name and the man said he could not find her on the list. "But I just sang at the wedding" she replied. The man looked again and said "I’m sorry but if your name is not on the list you can’t get into this reception. A waiter came and escorted the couple past the tables full of food, ice sculptures and delicious deserts to a service elevator and then pressed the G for parking garage. On the way home the husband asked what had happened and she said "when the invitation came by mail I was busy and forgot to send back the RSVP. I just figured that since I was singing at the wedding I could go to the reception".
Hell is truth seen too late. -- Tyron Edwards
2. What You Have Been Saved To – being found
The word Heaven is used 223 times in the NIV and always is the same word OORANOS which basically means up or “above the sky”.
As much as Hell is far worse than anything we can possibly imagine, heaven is far better. Have you ever taken a moment to consider what heaven is really like?
I remember in seminary when we were in the middle of exams. I was completely wired from studying. It was late at night but I wandered down to the student lounge for a break. A bunch of students were there looking like zombies. We all just sat there, no one speaking. Then someone said “I wonder what heaven will be like”. That brought a smile to my face. One by one people started describing what they thought heaven would be like. Imagine the food. What will it be like to have a healthy body. Imagine playing basket ball when you are able to fly! I don’t know how long we talked but I left refreshed.
From all we see in the bible and every glimpse we have, we have a LOT to look forward to.
In his book Dare to Believe, Dan Baumann illustrates the unique experience of knowing that something is ours, yet longing to enjoy it more fully. He explained that at Christmas time he would always do a lot of snooping, trying to find the gift --wrapped presents and figure out what was in them. One year he found a package with his name on it that was easy to identify as golf clubs. Baumann then made this observation: "When Mom wasn't around, I would go and feel the package, shake it, and pretend that I was on the golf course. The point is, I was already enjoying the pleasures of a future event; namely, the unveiling. It had my name on it. I knew what it was." But only "Christmas would reveal it in its fullness." The glories that await the Christian defy our comprehension. What we can grasp about them, however, fills us with great anticipation. We look longingly to that day when we shall enjoy heaven in all its fullness.
One of the things I learned living in Kuwait for 120 years is what it means to be an expatriate. That means you are living in a place that you know is not your home. Though you live in the country you are constantly reminded that you are only passing through. Only a fool builds a snowman and thinks it will last forever. Building a sand castle at low time is fun but you know it will not last.
Some people think that longing for heaven makes us “so heavenly minded we are of no earthy good”.
A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. -- C. S. Lewis
My favorite book in the Narnia series is the final book “The Last Battle”. I really hope they make a movie of it! I love the way Lewis described heaven as an onion, but each inner layer is bigger than the layer before. The farther in you go the more there is to see.
By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree and endless in duration. -- Benjamin Franklin
3. Rejoice With Me! (vs. 6 and 9) –
In all of these stories there is a party when the lost thing is found. The finder declares “rejoice with me!” God declares that to each one of us today. This is a place of rejoicing! When was the last time you rejoiced with God over someone coming to Christ.
Let me confess to you - though my wife believes that I am the least emotional personal on the planet - I cry at baptisms. They are wonderful and happy occasions to celebrate lost sheep that have made their way home. How can you not be overwhelmed with joy in light of the agony of Hell vs. the glory of heaven. We should be the happiest people on the planet! Unfortunately we often miss the party.
Sidney Harris once wrote, “The most miserable people I have known have not been those who suffered from catastrophes -- which they could blame on fate or accident -- but those who had everything they wanted, except the power to enjoy it.”
Why is it that sometimes we lose sight of the rejoicing? Because we forget what the angels see. Let me call you respond to this message today.
First, if you haven’t been overwhelmed at the thought of your own salvation recently you need to do so. Go back to the day you gave your life to Christ. Where would you be today without Him? We all need to remember again today what we have been saved from and where we are going to.
Second, be motivated by this in terms of your evangelistic efforts. What we do today can change the destiny of a person we know.
I heard the story of a youth pastor who wanted to bring this truth home to his youth group. His cat had kittens and he brought them in to show the youth. He let them play with the kittens and then had them all sit down. He pulled out a torch and lit it. He picked up one of the kitten and held it high above the flame and then slowly began lowering it. A slender girl in grade nine at the back of the class screamed “NO!” and ran forward knocking 2 huge football players out of the way. She grabbed the kitten, put it in the box with the others and ran out of the classroom with them. The youth pastor had someone run after her to bring her back and explained “I would not have hurt the kitten. I just want to ask you a simple question. If this girl would risk her life and do whatever it took to save the life of a cat, what are you doing to save your friends from a fate far worse.”
Third, if you have never done so before then choose today between Heaven and Hell. It is a decision that we make. You can know which way you are heading today. If you have any uncertainty in your heart make sure that you clear it up know – do not wait until later.
Heavenly Father, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong. Thank you that You sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free. From now on I will follow and obey Him as my Lord. Thank you that You now offer me this gift of forgiveness and your Spirit. I now receive that gift. Please come into my life to be with me forever. Through Christ our Lord.
