Then Jesus told them this 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? LUKE 15:3-4
One week ago today my eight year old Brazilian Mastiff, Daisy, ran away from home. She’s rarely left the back porch, much less left the yard. Last Friday, however, we were not at home when the roofing crew came to put new shingles on our house. All the loud banging on the roof and strangers in the yard terrified Daisy, and when one of the workers opened the gate to bring in more shingles, she bolted.
Since discovering that Daisy was missing, my family and I have made great sacrifices of time and money trying to find her. We have spent every available moment searching for her. We have burned at least a tank of gas driving around looking for her, calling for her, and putting up “LOST DOG” posters. We have gone through two sets of ink cartridges in our printer making posters and flyers. We’ve followed up on several leads and gone to talk to people that have reported spotting her. I’ve asked people to pray for her return. Many concerned friends have suggested ideas for finding her, and some have even gone out looking for her.
One day when I was out searching for Daisy the Lord brought a thought to me that is hard to admit, but is painfully true. He said, “Look at all the time and effort and expense and sacrifice you are willing to go through to find just one dog that is lost. You’ve prayed for her and asked others to pray. Daisy is important. She’s a part of your family. But she is, after all, just a dog. Compare her condition with the eternally lost souls that live all around you. Are you willing to do the same for them?”
Wow. Now I don’t think the Lord intended to lay some guilt trip on me (or you, if you’re feeling that way about now), but like a good Heavenly Father He was taking advantage of a teachable moment. He wanted me to ponder once again what is involved in saving just one lost soul.
- He wanted to remind me that was His purpose in coming: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
- He wanted to remind me of His sacrifice: “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:28)
- He wanted to remind me of His motivation: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Since Daisy went missing, I have talked to more neighbors and discovered more subdivisions and houses than I ever dreamed existed within a three mile radius of my house. Neighborhoods filled with homes that are filled with people that are lost, just like Daisy. If you or I are ever going to truly seek and save the lost, it must become our purpose, we must be willing to make sacrifices, and we must be motivated by a genuine love for them and a deep desire to see them come home.
The rest of the story: Not ten minutes after I finished this article my wife called with the wonderful news that a man had seen our signs, spotted Daisy, gotten her in his van, and was on his way to our house to bring her home! She’s a little beat up and has lost some weight, but other than that she seems fine. What rejoicing there has been among our family and friends! This, of course, was the last point in the “Lesson from a Lost Dog” - what great rejoicing we will experience when someone finally comes home to God!
. . . 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 15:5-7
