"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." - Luke 19:10
My family sure knows what I need when it comes to gifts. For Christmas, my thoughtful mother-in-law got me a new gadget called a Findable. You attach a little doohickey (I think that’s the technical name for it!) to your key ring, download an app, and—voilá!—lost keys are a thing of the past! Unless, of course, I lose my iPhone. But then I think it works in reverse, too. If I ever lose my iPhone and my keys, I’m in trouble!
I’m joking: this really is a great invention for someone like me; I’m pretty sure I lose my keys or my phone at least once a week. The ironic thing about this app, though, was that when I went to download it, I was informed that my iPhone was too old for it. Figures. I guess I’ll just have to pay better attention to where I put my stuff.
I lose a lot of things, and I lose them quite often. As I was contemplating this sad fact of my life, I was reminded of a line from maybe the most famous hymn in all of Christendom, “Amazing Grace.” I once was lost, but now am found. In preparation for a new program for Christian schools that we’re working on, we’ve been doing some research on the hymn’s composer, and I wanted to share just a bit of his story with you.
John Newton, the author of this hymn, knew what it was like to be lost. Most of us know that this man, who was once a slave trader, found Christ and later penned the words to this beloved hymn. But until we began our research, I didn’t know that he had spent nearly five years as a slave himself, mistreated and abused by his owner. It wasn’t until after his rescue and during a harrowing trip back home to England that he turned to God.
When he returned home, John continued for a while in the life of a slave trader (though he began to treat his “cargo” with compassion and sympathy); but after retiring from the trade, he was called by God into the ministry, where he preached and wrote hymns, including “Amazing Grace,” in order to teach his parishioners spiritual truths. (He also eventually was convinced of the evil of slavery and was influential in the abolition of the trade in England.)
As a prolific writer, John Newton wrote many things worth repeating, but the one I want to share with you, I believe, reflects his deep awareness of his lostness without Christ and the “amazing grace” which God bestowed on him: “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”
Indeed, this sentiment should be one that is shared by all believers. No matter how “good” or “well-intentioned” we may be, without Christ, we are hopelessly lost. Though my pre-salvation experience was the polar opposite of John Newton’s, I was no less bound for hell than he was. That is the beauty of the cross: there, Jesus’ arms stretched out to bridge the gap between God and man, and there, we are all in the same place—no farther and no closer than one another from the reach of the Savior.
As I think about my penchant for losing important things, I am grateful that as a “found” child of God, I will never be lost again. I may still lose my keys (though hopefully, my little device will help me find them quickly); but God will never lose me. I am safe and secure in His loving arms. Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand” (John 10:28-29).
I am so grateful for the love of God which never strayed from its purpose: to find me, a lost wretch, bring me to Himself, and keep me forever! Aren’t you grateful, too?
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture used in "Joy in the Morning" is taken from the English Standard Version.
