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Back to Basics – I Think We’re Lost

by Pastor TJ Freeman - February 13, 2019

There are 4 words I never like to see together: “I think we’re lost.”

Those are never good words, but they were especially frightening to a family exploring the remote wilderness of West Virginia.

Early one morning they left camp, with some flashlights and a map they found online, to explore a system of caves hidden deep in the hills. The caverns were breathtaking. Some of the rooms were vast and filled with beautiful formations. Other areas were so tight the explorers had to lay on their backs to squeeze through. The entire cave system was full of twists and turns with tunnels veering off in every direction. Eventually the family became disoriented, and even with a map they could not figure out where they were — or how to get back out!

But, they weren’t worried. They had a backup plan! Throughout their journey they had been dropping little pieces of reflective tape on the ground to mark their trail. Now all they had to do was find the last piece of tape and follow the trail to safety.

But, when they shined their flashlights on the ground, all they saw was mud. There wasn’t a piece of tape in sight.

An almost paralyzing fear took hold as the father wondered how long the batteries in their flashlights would last — and how they would ever find their way through the nooks and crannies of the cave without that trail of tape. To make matters worse, nobody knew where they were. This cave was so remote it was unlikely anyone would look for them there. Things began to look bleak.

In a moment, this family trip turned from pleasant to panic. All because of those 4 little words: “I think we’re lost.” Without clear direction the cave felt too dark and too vast to navigate.

I’ve never been lost in a cave, but I can relate to this family. Because life can feel a bit like that cave. Sometimes life is filled with excitement and breathtaking views! Other times it’s dark, and dirty, and uncomfortable. I know what it’s like to think you’re headed in the right direction, only to realize later that you’ve made a wrong turn and wound up somewhere you never meant to go.

Without a good sense of direction, life is disorienting and uncomfortable — at times it can even start to feel hopeless. What do you do when the circumstances of life make you uncomfortable? Would you be surprised to learn that that discomfort comes by design?

We were not designed to find meaning, comfort, and hope in our circumstances. After all, we have very little power to control them. Instead, we were made to find meaning, comfort, and hope in Christ!

The book of 1 Peter was written to reorient us. Peter teaches us that the troubles of this life are just temporary, but lasting hope is found in Christ. Listen to his words from 1 Peter 1:3-9:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Those who hope in Christ find comfort in His promise of salvation, an internal inheritance, and protection through this life. This hope is like a bright light when the circumstances seem dark.

You may be wondering what happened to the family who got lost in the cave. One of the children was convinced he knew the way to safety and the father reluctantly agreed to follow. Eventually the boy led the family out of the cave, saving their lives.

Are you feeling lost in the darkness? Has your search for a way out only left you feeling desperate? Turn to Christ. Trust His promises. Follow Him by faith. If you’d like to talk about today’s topic, you can email me at tj@wellsborobible.com.

Credits:

Idea/Concept: Pastor TJ Freeman
Videography: Ethan Chabala
Video Editing: Ethan Chabala
Writing: Pastor TJ Freeman

Produced by Vogt Media
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