In Luke 15 we find three marvellous stories. They are of 'the sheep, the coin and the son'.
You know them all. But I advise you to read these stories anew.
There was a shepherd, having lost one sheep from the herd. He did not rest and when he had found it, he took it to his house and had a big FEAST.
There was a woman, having lost a coin from her bracelet. She made light and went seeking in all corners..... you all know that a woman can seek for things much better than men .......and when she had found it, she warned her neighbours and there was a big FEAST.
There was a son, who left his father and who went back to his father , when he was totally poor and exhausted and at a loss what to do. And he wanted to say many things, but his father ran down the road, embraced him, kissed him , gave him new clothes and there was a big FEAST.
With all those things Jesus is speaking to all of us: - with that rough, strong shepherd: to the men - with that cunning seeking woman: to the women - with that son: to all children. ....and of course to you and me.
We all were: the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son. And our dear father, Abba, God, enabled by the sacrifice of his son , Jesus , seeks for us through his Holy Spirit. He seeks for us with that strong, eternal love of his.
Some of us were sheep, gone far away. We saw already the glowing eyes of the wolf, who waited for his chance. Some of us felt like coins. They lay in such a dusty corner, that they thought perhaps: "No one can find me here. I am really lost". Some of us had squandered all their capitals of thinking and intellect with things of nothings and teachings of no value and so on. And they were sitting down in total emptiness and spiritual hunger for what they had lost and things were absolutely hopeless. And they trudged homeward in their shabby clothing, thinking : "Perhaps dad has something as a job for me, be it what it may be, but at any case, that I have something to eat".
And the sheep, the coin and the son were the centre of a big feast. For the bible says in Luke 15 v 7: "I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents"..... and vers 10 "There is rejoice in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents"
Now my loves, the angels have rejoiced before the throne of God, when you converted. And there is always joy in heaven, when you come further with the Lord.
But there may be a slight possibility, that you say to me, with sorrow in your heart: "O Ger.....I have wandered away again from the Lord. My coin now lies in such a dusty corner, that God can never find it this time. And Ger....I am too sad and too tired and too hopeless and too dogged, I am in such a mood, that..... Ger... (I nearly dare not to say it) ....I do not want God to find me anymore, I am by purpose creeping still deeper in the dust, to prevent his shining on me. I want him to find me and I do not want him to find me... And I was that son refound...and anew I slipped away and I did the same stupid things ".
But I say to you. "Jesus' love is so wonderful.. Jesus' love is so wonderful Jesus' love is so wonderful.. Oh ....wonderful love..."
So high...can't get over it So deep...can't get under it So wide....can't get around it Oh wonderful love".
Don't wander further. Give at least some weak bleatings, some ashamed prayers, to make it easier to find you. Do not go further in the dust from a certain self-destruction. Try to pray once more. When you cannot stand up and go to your father....try to drag you forward, praying: "I am so absolutely exhausted Jesus, come and find me here, at this swine- sty".
And Jesus will come and help, if your heart has anywhere some room, where you are still longing for him.
But for all those , who are steadily going on with him and who enjoy their saving so much, that they want never, never, never to go astray, I say: "Let us enjoy the feast, which becomes bigger and bigger, greater and greater".
