The Lost and Found

Listen the world has to eat for that day, it doesn't know anything about faith! It is by any means necessary. This is the law of the land.

1 John 3:1 NLT

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

Recently I heard the story of a small dog who used to sit outside on his owners deck in the back of the home because he enjoyed chasing the squirrel, birds and smaller animals. Well in this area it was known to have coyotes and in most cases when the small dogs owner would be occupied doing other things he would put the dog in the home to prevent him from being attacked by the coyotes. Well as life would have it one day the man forgot to put his ole faithful buddy up in the house only to come home one day and see him out on the porch overly excited barking and howling like a totally different dog. The owner thought nothing about it but just found it strange that his little dog was acting like a new dog.

Well the next day when the man got up and took his little dog outside he raced to the backyards tree line and sat there staring into the forest area as if he was waiting for someone to come and get him. Again the owner thought it was strange how his little buddy was acting, but he figured he must have saw something and was waiting for it to come back out, so he could chase it. Well after a little time nothing came and the dog left from his position and wondered back into his owners home and went to his resting spot.

Well a few days later the man had to leave to go into town, when again not thinking much about it he left his precious dog outside only to arrive back from his destination seeing his dog missing. Calling out to him for several minutes the dog never responded and this was not like him.

well after 30 minutes or so the man knew something was wrong. He posted posters and talked to neighbors only for everyone to say they didn't see the little dog.

well a few hours later someone recognized the little fella and called the owner to inform him that the dog was seen with what appeared to be a coyote running through the forest only to be found dead with what remained of him.

The owner was shocked and hurt because hearing and seeing the little fellas excitement a few days earlier made it seem like the dog was taking on a personas that was different then how his owner had trained him.

So what changed? Well when the owner reported to the police officer about what happened the officer said it seemed like case of missing identity, the small dog’s thinking he could run with the coyotes. Only to be lured away into a trap and thus becoming the meal. See the coyotes never recognized the little fella as one of them. Even though he barked, howled and panted like the coyotes, he was never really one of them. So once he was lured away into the forest and away from safety he meet a grim ending of a dog eat dog world. (No pun intended) see the coyote was doing whatever he needed to survive. The dog was already being taken care of by his master. He ate well, lived well therefore he was well. And this is much like what John the apostle is saying.

The world doesn't recognize us, because it doesn't recognize God the father.

The coyote did not recognize the little dogs owner, all the coyote knew was he had to survive by any means necessary. His instinctive nature is to do what needs to be done to eat for that day.

Listen the world has to eat for that day, it doesn't know anything about faith! It is by any means necessary. This is the law of the land.

The law of God says have faith in me and I will take care of you, you are my child and I am your father. The law of the world is due whatever you have to survive, no one is going to take care of you except you so care only for yourself, steal, cheat, kill! Do whatever sounds right to you! Do You!

John 15:19 NLT

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

Listen you have been hand picked by our glorious father! The king of the universe, He saw you and fell in love with you. He called you out of this sin filled world. He elevated you to a higher standard life. This is why Satan and all that follow him hates you. because you are special.

The little dog was picked by the owner because the owner loved the little dog so he took care of all the dogs needs, the problem wasn’t the owner allowing the dog out to enjoy the outdoors, the problem was the dog not knowing his identity in that he was not one of a coyote.

Listen learn your identity in Christ Jesus.

Romans 12:2 NLT

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

to assimilate ⇔ be conformed v. — to be or become behaviorally or socially similar to; conceived of as being or becoming shaped or molded to a certain pattern.

As a child of God our father says; have faith in me and I will take care of you. You are so very precious, and I promise I will bless you! You are my hearts desire!

As a child of Satan’s he says; do what you need to do to get over on everyone around you because it's only about you. You only! Forget these clowns!

As a child of God he says, when others are in need take care of their needs because I will take care of yours. You mean the world to me! So don’t worry about these things in the world, they all belong to me, I own them all my love!

As a child of Satan he says; you better watch out for yourself you fool, because no one else is going to watch out for you, No One! Big Dummy!

See the contrast between God the father of the universe and Satan the father of this world. Listen Satan’s domain is limited to this one place... God, is sovereign over all.

This is important because when we consider our relationship with the side we will chose to stand with let us remember that Satan is the father of this fallen world and this too shall pass. God is the father of eternity and too has no ending so what side has more value? Obviously, Eternity. But when your eyes are wide shut you can’t see past your own fleshly desires.

As children of our heavenly father we are not perfect, we are going to fall short and wonder off the path. But thank God for His grace and mercy.

God is a loving and caring father who knows you are not sinless, but wants you to sin less.

1 John 1:8–9 NLT

8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

The individuals who don’t think they have fault in there lives are fools because they only live for that day, and they allow their pride to convince them that there is nothing wrong with them. They are good law abiding people and that at the end of all of this they enjoyed the life they made for themselves. After all there are far worse people in the world then them! And besides is there even a heaven and hell? Is there even a God and Devil?

Here is the problem with that mindset the unbeliever sins against the laws of God , but even worse he sins against the love of God. The believer sins against the love of the father but confesses his sins with a repented heart and God is quick to forgive him.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: The Pretenders (1 John 3:1–10)

A group of teenagers were enjoying a party, and someone suggested that they go to a certain restaurant for a good time.

“I’d rather you took me home,” Jan said to her date. “My parents don’t approve of that place.”

“Afraid your father will hurt you?” one of the girls asked sarcastically.

“No,” Jan replied, “I’m not afraid my father will hurt me, but I am afraid I might hurt him.”

She understood the principle that a true child of God, who has experienced the love of God, has no desire to sin against that love.

As an unbeliever you just live to sin, and sin to live but that ultimately produces death.

Romans 6:23 NLT

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

As a believer you should live to be obedient and obedient to be. Ultimately that produces life, and life more abundantly.

Ephesians 2:2 NLT

2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

Titus 2:12 NLT

12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,

So I want to close with this quick story, there is a story in the Bible where Jesus talks about this prodigal son.

Luke 15:13–24 NLT

13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything. 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’ 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

Listen my friend the door is open for you to enter into the family of God you don’t have to be apart of this condemned plan of failures that satan has set up for those who don’t desire to have fellowship with our Lord and Savior. As a matter of fact it’s as simple as just professing your allegiance to Christ our Lord. You want to know what the sin is of the world? It’s simple.

John 16:9 NLT

9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.

The first step to salvation is acknowledging your a sinner.

The second step is believing that God has called you to be a saint.

The third step is focusing your faith on Him and accepting His plan.

The fourth is desiring to be discipled in the things of God.

Won’t you say this prayer with me today.

-Then pray the sinners prayer -