How often do you misplace your keys, your phone, or the remote? It happens almost daily in our house with these and other things, but they usually turn up after a short time exploring places they were most likely left. How long does it take for something you misplaced to be considered lost…a few weeks to a month? I once had a backup set of car keys that seemed to have disappeared for several years, until I found them on the back ledge of the piano when we moved it away from the wall. I jokingly say that I seem to spend half of my life looking for things, but maybe it seems that I would just rather be doing something else than trying to find what I most recently misplaced, We just did our taxes last week and every year I seem to be hunting down numbers that I need to complete these accurately. Its always refreshing when I find what I’m looking for, and frustrating when I don’t. I’ve even resorted to prayer to help find things and have some remarkable stories about those results as well. What have you lost that you wish you could find again?
Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:8-10
I also keep a list of things that I have misplaced over the years that would be hard to replace and would like to find. This includes a travel journal that I kept from most of my journeys and mission trips over about 10 years. I also have some photos, including one album, that I had seen before that must have gotten tucked away or left with a relative. Most of these things have more sentimental value than actual value, but I’ve also found random cash over the years, so I hope others have found cash or things of value that I have lost. What do you consider the most valuable things in your life?
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:7-8
When it comes to things, we may even have contingencies over what happens to our homes and all our things after we are gone, because as they say, you can’t take it with you. Eventually, each of us will also have to give up our earthly lives as well, so that the only thing that remains of us is the impact and influence we made in our lives. Some of the greatest losses we will ever experience is when those closest to us give up their earthly lives. So then, what should be our attitude toward all the things we surround ourselves with each day, and how much time should we spend accumulating, cleaning, sorting, using, and losing all these things? Is the time we are investing into others or ourselves well spent? What are you willing to give up for your faith…all of your possessions, the things you hold dearly, or even your own life? Let us consider the true value we are placing on things, ourselves, others, and God and adjust accordingly so that when our time here is done, we have no regrets.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
Yours in Christ,
Clark
