Lost and Found

Hello and thank you for the privilege of sharing with you the single, greatest moment of my life. I was a young boy when I first understood the profound truth of what it means to be lost. Not the physical type of being lost, such as being lost in the woods; but spiritual lostness, the kind of which the Bible speaks. I came to understand when God’s Word says “all have fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23), it was talking about me. I was not a “bad” or “evil” person, according to the views of mankind. However, the Bible says that all men, this means me, have sinned against the holy and perfect God. When this truth penetrated my heart, I realized that I was in spiritual darkness. I was lost. I stood guilty before a perfect and mighty God, who is also my Creator.

The good news is with understanding my sinfulness also came the understanding that God was willing to forgive my sin. The Bible declares that God loves me so much that He gave His one and only son, Jesus, to take my punishment for me. Because of my sin against a Holy God I deserved His wrath and judgment. Yet, God is love (1 John 4:16), and in His wonderful love He extended mercy and grace to me. How? God placed his wrath and anger on his very own son, Jesus, so that my sin might be forgiven and that I might be restored to a

right relationship with my Creator, God. Only Jesus can do this. In fact, Jesus himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus not only came from God, but is God (John1:1). This God-Man took on humanity so He might provide the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He took our place that we might live!

At that moment, even as a young boy, it all made perfect sense. I knelt down on my

knees and asked God to forgive me of my sin. I gave God control of my life and I committed myself to live for him. That was 36 years ago. The journey has not always been easy. I have not always lived as I should, but I have LIFE! I live in peace and in joy, no matter the circumstances, because I know God is real and in control. I live without the guilt and shame of having sinned against God, for my God has taken all of that away. I now live with the

confident hope my life has an eternal purpose. Today I worship Jesus in faith, but one day I will worship Jesus, my Savior and Lord, face to face.

Do you have this hope? Do you live in peace and in joy? Do you sense that these words are true and God is calling to you? Admit to God that He is right and you are wrong, that you have sinned against Him. Call on Jesus, the One who was sent by God, to take your punishment. (He was killed on a cross, but 3 days later God raised Jesus back to life! He lives

forever and ever!) Ask God to forgive you in the name of His Son Jesus. Turn away from your sinful path and surrender your life into His hands. Turn control of your life over to God. From my own experience, I can tell you, your life will never be the same! I once was lost, but God found me!