There once was a young man who decided he wanted to build a boat. So, he gathered all of the supplies he needed, and set to work. After some time, and a lot of hard work, his creation was finished-a beautiful sailboat. He loved his creation, but he also wanted to know it it would work as he had created it to do. So, on a beautiful Saturday morning, he and his father drove to the lake.
Upon reaching the lake, they discovered a serene spot where they might test the boat. The water was calm, and the winds light, so the young man set his boat upon the water, and watched with great interest. The boat looked pristine as it floated along, the wind acting as it’s motor as it filled the sail and moved it smoothly along. The boy and the father proclaimed it “good”.
Suddenly, a gust of wind turned the boat toward deep water. Before the boy could secure his creation, it scuttled out of reach, and quickly out of sight. The boy and his father drove all around the lake in hopes of reclaiming the boat, but to no avail. The boat was lost, and the young boy heart broken.
Several days past. The boy, thinking he would never see his boat again, was walking past a store when something caught his eye-his boat. Entering quickly into the pawn shop, the boy pointed at the boat and told the store owner “that boat is mine!” Much to his disappointment, the store owner told the boy that the boat was his, explaining that he paid money for the boat. The boy was then told that he could buy it for eleven dollars. That was more than the young man had in his savings, so he set about to earn enough to buy back his creation.
After two weeks of mowing yards, he finally had enough to redeem is valued creation to himself. So, he went to the store and placed his eleven dollars on the counter. The shop keeper carefully removed the boat from the window and handed it to the boy. The boy left the building, clutching the boat with both hands. Once outside, he stopped and looked at his boat. With a tear in his eyes he spoke: “I created you, and then I lost you. I have paid for you, and now you are mine”. That which was lost had been redeemed.
As we were created at the hand of God, so we were lost. But the love of God sent his son to give his life as a ransom, that we might be redeemed. He created us, and we were lost. He paid for us, and we are his. Let us strive to live up to the sacrifice that was made on our behalf, and seek those that remain lost. We are paid, in full. God bless.
