SEARCHING FOR THE LOST by E. Hilliard

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, January 6, 1885

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 1

SEARCHING FOR THE LOST.

By E. Hilliard

A mixed multitude had assembled to hear the Saviour’s straight testimony concerning the way of life. Among the many close things that he said, there was perhaps no saying that came more close to the hearts of the rich, proud Pharisees and scribes than the following: “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

Our Lord gave them to understand that the true riches were not to be had unless sought after with the whole heart. He knew that they were laying up treasures on earth only to perish, and that their affections were so taken up with their earthly possessions that the only remedy lay in their disposing of their wealth. By transferring their treasure to heaven their hearts would follow after it. These opulent classes did not accept his teaching, and immediately sought to accuse him. They said, “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” The Saviour, whose heart was always so full of love for poor fallen man, pitied their blindness. To more forcibly bring before their minds the object of his mission, he asked them this pertinent question: “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which was lost?”

The shepherd counts his sheep, and finds that one is missing. Only one is gone, yet he leaves the ninety and nine in the field, and goes to search for the lost. He tracks it across the desert and up the barren mountain, and there, on the further side, exposed to the chilling winds and beating storm, lies the shivering, perishing sheep. Does he reason that it will perish anyway, and that it is of no use to try to save it? Oh! no. He lays it upon his shoulder, and with a light heart bears it back to the fold. Carefully he watches it day by day until it gains strength enough to feed with the others in the field.

The Good Shepherd desired to have the people understand that he was “searching for the lost.” The rich and the poor were there. Only those who felt their helpless condition could be helped. The scribes and Pharisees felt themselves rich and increased in goods and in need of nothing; consequently they were the ones that must be left to perish. It was the leper in his distress, the lame and the blind in their despair, that cried out to the Mighty Healer of both soul and body, “If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on us.” How willingly the Great Physician administered his healing balm! How the heart of the lonely leper must have beat with joy as the words of life fell from the Master’s lips, “I will: be thou clean.” Once more the rosy flesh covered his shrivelled, decaying form. Now he could mingle with his fellow-men without their fear of being contaminated. How he must have praised his benefactor, who so graciously and freely filled his blighted life with hope!

The great Redeemer loved to help the helpless. When he saw the penitent heart bowed down with grief, no words of condemnation were uttered, but he spoke words of hope to the desponding. He told them of his pardon so full and free. His great heart of sympathy was ever in search of the poor and needy. He loved to seek out the lost.

Dear reader, is it so with us? Are our hearts in the work? We have but a little while longer to search for the helpless ones. Are we watching for souls as they who must give an account? Oh! let us have hearts filled with love for the fallen race. Let us cultivate that unselfish love of our Saviour that does not reach its limits before the necessity of the case is met. It is the sick who need a physician; and the more deeply seated the disease, the greater need of help. Christ came to cheer the desponding, to raise the fallen, and to assist the poor. “Except ye have the spirit of Christ, ye are none of his.”

E. HILLIARD.