Lost Wallets and Saved Lives

The irony of the situation struck me yesterday afternoon as my cousin's husband and I were strolling up and down St. Paul's Church Road in search of my missing wallet. How the wallet could be on or beside the road is a different story, so I'll spare you the details. What really matters is what the Lord reminded me of yesterday that was a refreshment to my soul.

We searched for my wallet because it was of great value to me. It belonged to me and contained investments that I did not want to lose, or what's worse, be picked up by the wrong hands. What struck me was this...You see, we are like that wallet. This struck me because I thought about the man who was helping me look for the wallet right then and there. You see, we almost lost him, too. Sin had overtaken his life and his family was in jeopardy. We almost lost him, but decided to let love and grace lead him out of the hole and into the light. We contacted him in the midst of his pain and let him know how much we loved him regardless of the sin that had overtaken him. And now, here we were, together again searching together for something lost.

Too many times we have an improper view of the gospel...We're standing on one side of the canyon and God on the other, while the cross bridges the gap for us to cross over and be where God is. The only problem is, that is not reality. There is a canyon. God is in fact on one side and we're on another. And there is truly a cross bridging the gap. But, if we are truly honest with ourselves, we would admit that if we had things our way, we would not run towards God, but run full speed in the other direction away from God and head-first into a life of sinful, self-serving pleasures. BUT praise be to God! He knows our sinful hearts! He provided the cross, so he HIMSELF could pursue us with HIS love, and rescue us from ourselves and the evil with which we were ensnared. Much like me seeking my wallet because it was of value to me. You and I are of extreme value to God! SO valuable in fact, that he HIMSELF died innocently for us.

So how can we let someone we love be swallowed up by sin? How can we keep silent and not love him? Aren't we glad God didn't keep silent and leave us to die in our sin, alone and forsaken? I honestly would rather lose a wallet with access to every financial account that is in my name than lose any person I love!

As we walked back towards the house, I looked at him and told him, "We can replace the wallet. We can't replace you." God is pursuing the world with his love and the world is running the other way. Sometimes the best way to remind people of God's grace is to demonstrate it.

And with that, Stephen, we love you, brother! Go and tell the world how God has rescued you out of darkness and into his marvelous light!

(By the way...I have my wallet now, but that's a whole other story.)