The Lost Bracelet

I lost a bracelet.
It was not an expensive bracelet, but it was a favorite of mine.
It was silver with colored beads and charms.
There were three charms: an anchor, a cross, and a heart.

Faith.
Hope.
Love.
But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

I wore the bracelet to church many times.
I remember taking if off one particular Sunday with my other jewelry.
Since that bracelet is kept in a different place, I laid it down on the kitchen island.
It was next to my purse, not my every day bag, but one that I carry on Sunday.

I didn’t think about it when I went upstairs to change my clothes after church.
I didn’t think about it when I put my Sunday purse away.
I didn’t think about it as I removed a necklace that was wearing.
I just didn’t think about it.

Not until months later, when I wanted to wear that bracelet, did I think about it.
The bracelet was nowhere to be found.
I took out every jewelry box from my drawer.
I looked in every possible place.

It was gone.

I have other bracelets, but I really liked that one.
I liked what it reminded me of as I glanced down at the charms.
I liked the way it dangled and made noise as I talked with my hands.
Something I inevitably do.

One day, I happened to find that same bracelet in the store where I got my first one.
They had not had that bracelet in a while and I was very surprised to see it.
It was on sale and I bought it.
It was the same, but not the same.

You can never truly duplicate something.
There are always memories associated with the first thing that cannot be replicated.
It is somewhat like a child who carries a favorite blanket or cuddly stuffed animal.
If that favorite companion is lost, it cannot be replaced.

Even if you find the same blanket or the same stuffed animal, it is different.
It doesn’t smell the same.
It isn’t worn in all the right places.
Parents are amazed that a child knows the difference but they do, they always do.

Then Jesus told them this parable: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” (Luke 15:3-6)

Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not 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.” (Luke 15:8,9)

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:20-24)

Lost sheep.
Lost coin.
Lost son.
What was lost is now found.

We are also lost before we come to Jesus in faith.
We cannot save ourselves.
We cannot pull up our bootstraps and act as if nothing has happened.
We must be found.

The sad thing is that many do not know they are lost.
They do many good things.
They somehow think that counts for something.
Good works do not bring you home and out of your lost-ness.

Only Jesus can find us.
Only Jesus, who died on the cross and rose again three days later, is able to save us.
We must know how very lost we are in order to be found.
We must come to Jesus in humility and tell Him we are sinfully lost.

The response will be the same as in the parables.

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7)

There is rejoicing when one who was lost is now found.

I found my bracelet.
It must have been in my hand when I put my Sunday purse back on the shelf.
I moved a pair of boots one day from my closet floor and heard a noise.
I carefully, looked inside and found my lost bracelet.

I rejoiced.
I can relate to lost-ness.
I can rejoice in being found.
How about you?

Tell Him you are lost.
He will find you.
He will always find you.