On June 5, 2002 in the early morning, Brian David Mitchell broke into a house in suburban Salt Lake City, Utah. He kidnapped a 14 year old girl by the name of Elizabeth Smart. A massive search was mounted, and Ed Smart, Elizabeth’s father, went on television pleading for the return of his daughter. Police conducted their investigation, slowly eliminating every lead. Their prime suspect even died.
Every step of the way, any sign of hope was taken away, ruled out, or proved to be wrong. Can you imagine the Smart parents worrying; wondering if their daughter was even alive? Every possibility of finding her was disappearing before their very eyes.
On March 12, 2003 a biker recognized Mitchell from a photo which had been displayed on America’s Most Wanted the night before. The police in Sandy, Utah were looking for Mitchell on other charges and they picked him up along with two women. One of the women was disguised, and as the police looked closer and questioned her they realized they had found Elizabeth.
Can you imagine receiving that phone call? “We’ve found you daughter. She is alive. She is safe.” Can you imagine that reunion? Tears of joy streamed down their cheeks as the Smarts hugged their daughter, told her they loved her, and welcomed her back into the family.
The restoration of a lost child is a powerful thing.
Just ask Jacob. The text says that Joseph presented himself to his father and, “fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.” They didn’t want to let go of each other. They just held on to each other and cried together rejoicing in their reunion.
Jesus once told a parable about a father who lost his son in Luke 15:11-32. Listen to his description when of the restoration of that son. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” That’s how powerful the emotion God the Father feels when he sees his lost children.
I don’t go for all kinds of weepiness. I hate it when I cry. We all know it’s a half truth, but the adage that “men don’t cry,” is still axiomatic in our society. But a father weeping over his child; a parent crying over their son or daughter . . . this we understand! Our hearts break with those who lose children, and they soar with those whose children are restored. We can’t help it. It’s hardwired into who we are.
I think that’s the case because we are simply reflecting our Father in heaven. His heart yearns for us to return to him, he longs for the day that he sees one of his lost children coming home, and he runs to greet us. That will be a day of weeping tears of joy, and a day of clinging to the One who loves us so much. It will be the day that the incredibly high cost of cross is finally proven to be worth it, because we will be able to be with the Father forever because of Jesus.
Lord Jesus, thank you for making the way for me to return home to my Father in Heaven. Give me your Spirit and keep me faith until the day when we weep tears of joy in a blessed heavenly reunion. Amen.
Every step of the way, any sign of hope was taken away, ruled out, or proved to be wrong. Can you imagine the Smart parents worrying; wondering if their daughter was even alive? Every possibility of finding her was disappearing before their very eyes.
On March 12, 2003 a biker recognized Mitchell from a photo which had been displayed on America’s Most Wanted the night before. The police in Sandy, Utah were looking for Mitchell on other charges and they picked him up along with two women. One of the women was disguised, and as the police looked closer and questioned her they realized they had found Elizabeth.
Can you imagine receiving that phone call? “We’ve found you daughter. She is alive. She is safe.” Can you imagine that reunion? Tears of joy streamed down their cheeks as the Smarts hugged their daughter, told her they loved her, and welcomed her back into the family.
The restoration of a lost child is a powerful thing.
Just ask Jacob. The text says that Joseph presented himself to his father and, “fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.” They didn’t want to let go of each other. They just held on to each other and cried together rejoicing in their reunion.
Jesus once told a parable about a father who lost his son in Luke 15:11-32. Listen to his description when of the restoration of that son. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” That’s how powerful the emotion God the Father feels when he sees his lost children.
I don’t go for all kinds of weepiness. I hate it when I cry. We all know it’s a half truth, but the adage that “men don’t cry,” is still axiomatic in our society. But a father weeping over his child; a parent crying over their son or daughter . . . this we understand! Our hearts break with those who lose children, and they soar with those whose children are restored. We can’t help it. It’s hardwired into who we are.
I think that’s the case because we are simply reflecting our Father in heaven. His heart yearns for us to return to him, he longs for the day that he sees one of his lost children coming home, and he runs to greet us. That will be a day of weeping tears of joy, and a day of clinging to the One who loves us so much. It will be the day that the incredibly high cost of cross is finally proven to be worth it, because we will be able to be with the Father forever because of Jesus.
Lord Jesus, thank you for making the way for me to return home to my Father in Heaven. Give me your Spirit and keep me faith until the day when we weep tears of joy in a blessed heavenly reunion. Amen.
Comments