Remember those
who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of
their conduct, imitate their faith. Hebrews
13:7
Working in a church office puts you
in the position of being a sanctuary or safe haven for anyone who may walk in
off the street needing assistance ranging from counseling to financial
matters. One day an elderly gentleman
walked in looking very lost. He held a
fistful of small acorns. When I asked
him how we could help him, he handed me those acorns and said he was looking
for his home. He claimed it used to be
right where he was looking, in the neighborhood of the church, but he couldn’t
find it.
It turned out that he actually did
grow up in that neighborhood but his childhood home no longer stood where it
used to be. It was long gone. The man was disoriented and confused and had
somehow managed to get to our church from Granbury. His daughter was very relieved when we
contacted her.
I kept those small acorns that man
handed me that day. I took them home and
I put them up. I imagine that maybe he
picked them up out of a yard that he thought was the yard he played in as a
child. It really tugged at my heart and
how it was a symbol for him to hold on to something long gone. He was searching, looking, and longing and
any little object that connected him was important.
What Connects You?
What is it that you hold in your
hand? What is in your grasp? What are
you clinging to and looking for? Have
you gotten away from that important place in your life? Have you wandered so far and forgotten your
way back, groping and looking for landmarks along the way? Thankfully when we wander away from Jesus, He
is still there by our side. We wander
but He does not. He waits and when we
finally realize how lost we are and feel the desperate loneliness of one who
has strayed away from God, He welcomes us back.
When we seek Him and search for the path back, He leads us and provides
all the clues we need to find Him. He
doesn’t play games and He doesn’t make it hard.
As long as we choose and desire Him, He is readily available. He will not leave us or forsake us, He
promises. Don’t let go of Him and lose your way. Don’t turn away even for a little while
because Satan would love for you to take your eyes off of Him and stray into
his trap.
Also, don’t let go of the things that keep you close to Him – the
fellowship of a church, Bible verses, people, etc. Hold these in the grasp of your hand as a
reminder of your faith, the faith you have been taught perhaps from
childhood. Sometimes we need symbols to
remind us because in the harshness of life, we can forget or get distracted.
Scripture to Claim:
Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs
I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. Isaiah
46:4 ESV
