Little Charles, only four years old, strayed away from a Sunday school picnic being held out in a wooded area in the country. It was not until evening when the children were mustered for the return home, that little Charles was missing. All were greatly anxious and distressed when it was discovered that Charles was lost. One teacher ran in one direction and one in another; the older boys hunted and shouted around every bush, and up and down the hills, but Charles could not be found.
The children all returned sadly to their homes, and a few of the teachers returned to continue the search.
It was not until midnight that it was discovered where Charles was. He had wandered along a road all by himself until he had lost sight of the rest of the children. Still on and on he trudged. At length an officer going along a lonely road met the little fellow, and as Charles was too young to explain who he was and how he had become lost, the officer took him to a nearby house, where the kind housewife gave him some supper and put him to bed.
The Sunday school teachers were thankful indeed when they knew where Charles was, and they telephoned his parents the joyful news—“Charles is safe!” Do you think that Charles’ father and mother were content to know that their dear boy was safe? No, they could not rest until their brown-eyed little boy was brought home.
Now the Bible tells us that “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own say...” Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6); but the Lord Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). In Luke 15 we read of how the lost sheep was not only found but taken home by the shepherd, and of the prodigal being not only forgiven, but welcomed and brought into his father’s house. Such is the love of God and the love of Christ for the sinner.
ML-12/03/1978