LOST AND FOUND

Car brakes squealed as a small child ran crying across the road. Reg stopped his car, stepped out and carried the little lad, and left him in my care, as he hurried off to keep an appointment.

I curled my arms around the child’s shoulder and asked his name. It sounded lie Niel, followed by ‘vote’. Maybe his parents were at the local school , five minutes’ walk away to record their election vote. Perhaps they left him at the playground opposite our home.

‘No trouble,’ I thought. ‘I shall sit with him and wait for their return.’ After 40 minutes there was no sign of his parents.

‘Do you know your way home, dear?’ I asked, and the lad nodded. ‘Come with me and we will find Mummy and Daddy.’ He was quite happy about that. He held my hand, and pointed along the street. Off we walked, while I sang, ‘ Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so, interspersed with short prayers for God to help.

‘You tell me when we come to your street,’ and Niel nodded, and pointed.

‘Down here’. So ‘down here’ we walked. But after a short walk, he again pointed ‘down here’, so we turned the corner, but without recognising his home. Although I enquired from people working in their gardens, no-one knew the boy while few seemed to care that he was lost.

Again I tried. ‘Tell me about your home, Niel,’ I coaxed, thinking I might recognise it, but without success, and again he pointed,’ down here.’ We kept walking, holding hands, singing until so many ‘Down here’s’ that I decided to change my plan.

‘Niel, I know a kind man who will help us to find your daddy and mummy. He wears a blue shirt and cap, and has a blue car, with a blue shiny light on top. He’s a very friendly policeman, and helps lost boys.’

Suddenly Niel became chatty. ‘Friendly man?’ ‘Yes’.

‘Nice blue car?’ ‘Yes’

‘Find my daddy?’ ‘Yes’.

‘You get nice policeman for me.’

So, retracing our steps we reversed all the ‘down here’s ‘ until we arrived back at my home. After a welcome drink and biscuits, I rang the friendly policeman who promised, ‘I will send the patrol car,’ and we sat o n the lounge with a story book, some biscuits, and waited.

Before long the friendly policeman with the blue car and the blue flashing light stopped in front of our home. Niel ( later found to be Ewen) was scooped up by the friendly policeman, who put his hat on Niel’s head, much to his excitement, as he was

strapped in with the seat belt. He waved happily as the car moved off to the safety of the police station.

It was a relieved policeman who kindly returned half an hour later to say that the little boy was returned to his parents, half a mile further on from where I searched. The child ran away from home, complete with his father’s keys to home, car, and university laboratory.

Later I found the keys, which had slipped from the boy’s pocket to the side of our lounge chair cushions.

It was a miracle that the 3 ½ years-old lost child was restored to his father and mother by the man of justice, who was also the man of mercy that morning.

That is like all mankind, who have strayed from God, the Father, to live in rebellion to Him. Everyone wanders in his or her selfish way, without believing God or His words in the Bible.

So everyone deserves God’s punishment. But God also loves, as He is merciful and helps us, even though we do not deserve it. God’s unique Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, paid the price for our sin, when He shed His blood as a sacrifice and died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin and guilt, when we believe and trust Him.

Jesus Christ comes alive and He is like a key to open the door to Heaven.

Do not run away from God. I wisely called the man of Justice and mercy to rescue the little boy, and restore him to his father and mother.

I have received from the Lord Jesus Christ everlasting life, and the promise of heaven. He rescued me from sin’s guilt, and Hell’s judgment, through His grace and mercy, and I belong to God, my heavenly Father.

If you are searching for God’s salvation, please click on God’s Plan and read it in your own language. Gwenda would love to hear from you/

hgsteward@cobweb.com.au