Runaways

A video is showing on almost all media outlets today.  In it, a mother
pushes a baby stroller onto a platform to await a commuter train
outside of Melbourne, Australia.  She turns her back for just a moment
and the stroller begins rolling toward the tracks.  Too late, the
mother rushes to catch the stroller just as it rolls off the platform
and onto the tracks below.  The train runs over the stroller and baby,
and everyone braces for the worst.

Amazingly the six-month-old boy received nothing more than a bump on
his head.  Had he not been securely strapped in, the outcome might
have been tragic.

Another story from yesterday has a similar theme.  For two hours the
nation held its breath as they watched a homemade UFO-type balloon fly
uncontrollably across the plains of northern Colorado.  The reason for
the attention was the belief that six-year-old Falcon Heene was aboard
the craft his father had made.  Viewers later learned that Falcon had
been hiding in the attic of the family's home.  For awhile, though, it
seemed another tragedy was in the making.

Stories like these are not uncommon.  Children have a way of slipping
away in the wink of an eye.  Responsible parents know that they must
keep a vigilant eye on their children's whereabouts, or else their
little one may become tomorrow's headlines.

Let's not be too hard on children.  We, too, have a proven track
record of slipping away from the One who loves us.  Though God made us
to live wholesome and happy lives within the guidelines He
established, we often run away to chase that which glitters.  In doing
so we place ourselves in great jeopardy.

That Jesus had to die despite being completely innocent was a
miscarriage of justice.  Yet it was necessary because people (i.e.
you, me and all others) strayed from the path.  Here is a clear
statement of what prompted Jesus' deadly mission: "All we like sheep
have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the
Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).

The simplest thing to do with straying sheep is to let them go.  They
were given all the advantages, all the incentives to stay close to the
Shepherd.  If they choose to stray, then so be it.  They got
themselves into this mess, let them get out of it if they can.  God
knew, however, that we could never get ourselves out of the mess
called sin.  We would suffer eternally for our foolishness.

God rushes to rescue us much as the mother who frantically chases the
runaway stroller.  "What do you think?  If a man has a hundred sheep,
and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go
to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?" (Matthew 18:12)
Jesus spoke those words.  And He also spoke these: "For the Son of Man
has come to save that which was lost" (Matthew 18:11).

You and I are the runaways.  We are in great danger as long as we are
separated from the loving Father.  Thanks be to God that He has not
ignored us!  He reaches out to each one, imploring them to accept the
rescue He provides.

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him
in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you'd like
to discuss these ideas further.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Timothy D. Hall