I was traveling north on Rt. 87 between Fayetteville and Sanford, North Carolina this morning. Along the way i kept observing groups of people parked along the roadway and on side roads. Firefighters, police officers, volunteers on ATV’s and others walking. Two officers were with a search dog. They were looking for a little five-year old girl missing over the weekend. As the news reports in North Carolina and the country shared her story and the struggling circumstances surrounding it one hoped against hope of discovering her alive and healthy. However, the news came in early afternoon that her body had been discovered in a wooded area not far from Rt. 87. How can it be possible that someone can take a child and use them for their own greedy, selfish, sinful actions and then take their life? Is there grace in God’s heart for the sinful actions of someone against a child? Thank God that the determination of grace is not contingent upon my decision-making because there is little room right now for grace. However, in God’s love and care there is always room for grace. For some we take that freedom and use it as a license to do anything we want and fall back into the arms of grace as an easy out. That is “Cheap Grace”; Boneffer, the German theologian martyred during WWII said that it is cheap grace to choose discipleship without repentance. Repentance means turning around. U turns are allowed in the Kingdom of God. Turning around is to turn away from sin and turn toward God. My heart aches for those so lost they believe that there is no way to be found. May they so way so how discover that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is their Savior as well as the Savior of the world.
There is another thought that i had today about this tragic situation. I wonder how long it has been since the followers of Jesus in our communities were as committed to searching for someone lost in the wilderness of sin and running away from God’s love and grace as i observed today? Lost! What a descriptive word for people all around us!
Shalom
December 2, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I was just listening to your sermon of nov 8th,the day i was taken to hospital. Gloria and I thank you and our church family for all the prayers for us and the cards that was so nice and appreciated. such a blessing to have friends. WE are back on our feet again now, thanks be to God. we hpoe your family is well, we often think of you and the children, someday we may meet them. we keep you in our prayers and remain sincerly, Hank and Gloria WEbb