Trinity Evangelical Church

I’d like to tell you a story that I hope gives you some idea of why we exist as a church.  About 18 years ago, I was at one of the large malls in the Portland area with my two young children on a Saturday in December.  We had dropped my wife off at another event near the mall and decided to get in a few hours of Christmas shopping before having to pick her up later.  As you might imagine the mall was packed.  We headed for Meier and Frank to find some gifts for their mother.  Within a few minutes, though trying to keep my children right next to me, I noticed my son, about 5 at the time, was out of view.  He had developed a liking to “hiding” in the display racks of clothes so I searched all the racks near me.  I had just seen him seconds before, but as I looked he was not to be found.  His little game was not very amusing anymore.  My frustration soon turned to panic as I discovered he was lost.  The more I looked for him, the more frantic I got.  At first, I didn’t want to draw any attention to myself or my children, but after a minute or so of not being able to find him, I began to yell his name louder and louder as my daughter and I ran through the store.  I didn’t care what people thought, I wanted to find my son!   My heart was sick.  Was he simply lost or had someone taken him?  I talked with store personnel and began to pray.  Some 15-20 agonizing minutes later I heard a message over the loudspeaker, “would the father of Cody Blikstad come to customer service on the first floor”.  My heart has never been so joyful and relieved as we walked towards customer service and saw him sitting there on a stool. How could I have ever forgiven myself if my young son had never been found?

Why do I tell you this story?  It reminds me so much of a series of stories Jesus tells us about His Father in the Gospel of Luke.  Through these parables, Jesus shows us His Father would do anything to get His “lost” children back.  Jesus describes Him like a shepherd who having lost just one of 100 sheep, will go out and search for it until it has been found.  He is like the woman who having lost one of 10 coins will do everything she can until she finds it.  He is like the father who joyfully welcomes his wayward, rebellious and “lost” son home.  Jesus, in that same Gospel tells us, “And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those who are lost”. (Luke 19:10) And Jesus has called His disciples to care about “lost” people and to do the same.  Jesus said to His disciples, “Go and make disciples of all the nations”.  The Apostle Paul says, “God has given us the task of reconciling people to Him.”(2 Cor. 5:18)  Though we cannot save anyone, we can point people to the One who can.  That is why we exist.  We realize that people have gotten lost, separated from God by their own choosing, and yet God, through Jesus, is seeking and saving those who turn to Him, and that He wants to use us in the process.

The song ‘Amazing Grace’ begins, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.  That saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost, but now I am found, was blind, but now I see.”  We have all been lost, but through the grace of God, if we have placed our trust in Jesus Christ, are saved.  Saved from our rebellion against God and saved to a new life in Christ. It is possible only through faith in Jesus and His payment for our sins on the cross.  We simply need to confess our rebellion and our desire to follow Him, thank Him for His grace and provision in Jesus, and ask Him to come and save us.  He has promised He will. 

I can’t even imagine if I were sitting here today without my son.  My heart would be broken.  You are like that son or daughter to God.  Though He doesn’t lose us, we do that on our own. He desperately wants you to be “found”.  He doesn’t care what other people think.  He wants what is best for you, and is searching for you even today.  Though God doesn’t get frustrated or panicked, He has done all that is necessary to find you.  Won’t you allow Him to find you today?!  

We would love for you to experience the joyful reunion with God.  We would love to be a part of your journey.

God bless you!

Steve Blikstad, Pastor ( stephen@trinityc.org )

Trinity Evangelical Church