He's not the youngest motorcycle rider in the pack, but he's got to be one
of the most devoted. Take that away from him and you'd be taking away one
of the great joys of his life. Problem: he's been diagnosed with
Alzheimer's disease. And as that condition progresses, he can expect to
begin to experience some disorientation, among other things. That's not a
good thing for a fellow running around on his motorcycle. So he has
installed a global positioning system on his bike, which will always show
him where he is and where home is. That way, if one day he's out on his
bike and forgets his way home, he'll be able to find his way home no
matter where he goes.
Being able to get home is one of the strongest drives and deepest needs in
every human heart. For most people, you can only be away from home for so
long before your deep longing for home kicks in. Occasionally, we'll hear
about a child or even an older person with failing mental faculties who
has wandered away from home and can't find their way back. We have a word
for that. They're "lost."
I find it interesting that "lost" is the word that God frequently uses in
the Bible to describe us humans. For example, Jesus Christ announced His
personal mission on earth this way: "The Son of Man came to seek and to
save what was lost" (Luke 19:10). Spiritually, we're away from home and we
don't know how to find home. "Lost" is the name of a hit TV show that
tells the stories of plane crash survivors stranded on a strange island
with no way to get home. In a way, they're a picture of all of us. "Lost"
could be the title of a series based on the lives of any of us.
The exciting revelation in the Bible is that we don't have to stay lost.
We weren't put here to be lost; unable to find home. Home is a personal
relationship with the God who created you. Having been made, in the
Bible's words, "by Him and for Him" (Colossians 1 :16), God is clearly the
reason for our existence, the meaning for our life. But we've thought we
could run our lives ourselves and we've ended up acting in so many ways
that have separated us from God; that have left us away from home - unable
to find our way back.
Maybe you know this feeling of being lost on this planet, even if life is
good. No real direction, no great purpose ... wandering. Jesus has great
news for you in our word for today from the Word of God. He wants us to be
His sheep and He wants to be our Shepherd. In John 10, beginning with
verse 3, He says: "He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out ...
He goes on ahead of them and His sheep follow Him ... My sheep listen to
My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and
they shall never perish." Talk about security! Belonging to the God of the
universe now and forever. And talk about meaning! Being led by the One who
put you here!
But it cost the Shepherd everything for you to find home. He had to leave
home and come to this earth where He died on a cross to pay the penalty
for all our sinning. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; the good
shepherd lays down His life for the sheep" (John 10: 11). That's how
precious you are to Him. That's how much He loves you. He died so you
could live this life with Him in your heart and so you could be with Him
forever in heaven.
There is a plan. There's a destiny for your life no matter what age,
something so much bigger than just the scattered pieces of the puzzle of
your life. God has the top of the box that shows you how to put the pieces
together. And Jesus is the only way you can have the God of heaven be your
God. And you will belong to Him from the moment you tell Him, "Lord, I'm
lost because I've done my life my way instead of Your way. I want that to
change. I want my sins forgiven so I can belong to You, and I'm pinning
all my hopes on Jesus because He died to bring me home."
Maybe your own personal GPS needs some Global RE-positioning a little.
It's never too late and one of the best things about it the REPOSITIONING
process is that you don't have to do it alone. You have a great
congregation here at North Royalton Christian Church it's a great place to
find that out personally.
See you in Church,
Chuck
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