The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-01-24

80 ~~~SSst eAA4 VIC WDolC
side gives up its work to 60 and seek
him. An airship fails to reach it's
destination, and hundreds of ships
60 to seek after 1t, while an entire
nation waits in suspense. A ship
Is lost at sea, and the whole world
grieves.
But listenl It Is only when ap-
piled to the spiritual life that the
word "lost" finds its real depth Of
meaning. To be without God in
the world" (Eph. 2:12) and without
hope-that is to really be lost. Yet
parents who would not rest a mo-
ment while their child was physical
ly lost 60 on without concern over
his spiritual condition.
Our Lord had no such unconcern.
He was deeply moved over the lost
condition Of men; He came ito seek
and to save that which was lost"
The two parallels Of our lesson teach
Us three truths.
I. Lost and Lamented wv. IA, 81.
The publicans and sinners recog-
nized their need of a Saviour and
He, knowing their lost condition, re-
ceived them, much to the disgust Of
the Pharisees and scribes who felt
no need to be saved. They have
their descendants in our churches
today.
The good shepherd cannot rest
while one Of the sheep is lost.
Though there were ninety and nine
that safely lay in the shelter of the
Told" he sought the lost one. His
grief-stricken heart compelled him
to 60 out into the night to find him.
One wonders how we who profess
to follow Christ, the Good Shepherd,
can be so complacent about the lost.
What II we do have the ninety and
nine in church-where Is the lost
one? Even if we do have large
Sunday School class-where are the
boys and girls who are lost? Do
our hearts grieve over them7 II 50,
we viii go and seek them. We who
would quickly Join the woman in
! seeking for her coin-wili we Join
The Saviour in seeking the lost7
II. Sought by Sacrifice wv. 4, 81.
The woman laid aside her usual
duties and the pleasures Of life to
seek her coin. The shepherd left
the warmth, the comfort, and the
rest which he had earned to 20 out
into the wilderness to seek his
sheep.
"But none of the ransomed ever
knew
How deep were the waters
crossed;
Nor how dark was the night that
the Lord passed through
Ere He found His sheep that was
lost"
Soul-winning calls for sacrifice.
II the love Of Christ constrains us,
we will do 1t gladly, but if the self
seeking, comfort-loving spirit of this
age controls our lives, we will al
ways find some excuse (not q rea-
son, but an excuse).
III. Restored With Rejoicing WV.
ST, 9. 10).
The lost coin back in the owners
hand brought Joy to her and her
neighbors. The shepherd calls in
friends and neighbors to rejoice over
the restored sheep. How intensely
human that Is, and how altogether
appropriate.
The great truth, however, is found
in verses and 10, where we learn
that the repentance of one sinner
sets even the bells of heaven ringing
as the angels Of God rejoice.
How long Ia it, my Christian
friend, since you caused such Joy
by permitting yourself to be used Of
God in winning a soul7 Yes, l know
that it is God who seeks, but He
uses human beings as His messen-
gers, as His seekers. That is our
first business after we ourselves
have been saved.
Our lesson will not be complete
unless we consider the rest of the
chapter-the parable of the prodigal
son. In its main points it is like
the other two parallels, but there
ls this vital difference-the shepherd
sought his sheep, the woman
searched for her coin-the father
did not seek the son; the son sought
the father.
Some prodigal, far from the house
Oh ms heavenly Father, may read
these lines and say, II wish some
one would seek me out and bring
me to God" But, my friend. you
need not wait for anyone. Do as
the prodigal did-"arise and go" to
God. He is waiting for you; His
love has never faltered; He wants
you to come now. Make His heart
rejoice, and set the choirs of heaven
singing, by coming to Him by
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