Have you ever lost your way to a destination?  Or perhaps worse, have you ever been lost on your way somewhere not realizing it for some time and kept going for some considerable distance?  I must admit, it has happened to me before at night, and it was more than a little disconcerting when I realized I had no idea where I was.  Perhaps you have great navigation skills, and it hasn’t happened to you before.  With modern GPS technology and smart phones, this happens less and less now than it once did.

Still, we have all been spiritually lost at some time in our lives.  Perhaps that is where you are now, unsure of where you are or where to turn when the road of life becomes rocky and rutted.  Jesus knew these times would come to all of us, and he taught his disciples about being lost through a parable.

“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?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.  Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 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.” (Luke 15:4-7)

The power of this simple parable took on a new meaning after a recent trip to New Zealand.  We saw field after field and farm after farm of sheep.  While I was seeing all of these sheep, I wondered how in the world would a farmer keep up with all of his sheep, and possibly know if one was lost or missing.

Everyone one of us at some point has been a lost sheep and God desired that not one of us should be lost.  It was for this reason that God sent his son to seek us out, find us, and put us on his shoulders and take us home.

However, the role of shepherd that Jesus took on ultimately required him to lay down his life for us his lost sheep, and pay the price for our sin.  If you are unsure of where you are, and where you will be one day at the end of the road, turn to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and let him lead you home.

See you at the ramp.