[Biblemat] A) SEARCHING FOR RUNAWAYS

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Thursday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my recent files:

SEARCHING FOR RUNAWAYS

     Throughout this country, thousands of children are "on
the streets," having left their homes in search of "freedom"
from the restraints of parents, teachers, rules and regulations
May of them are quite young, celebrating an eleventh or twelf-
th birthday "on their own."  Parents and friends live in anquish not knowing 
the whereabouts of these children.  Un-
sure whether their children are living or dead, these parents
and friends endure tremendous agony as they seek them out
and bring these children back home.  Many of these children
leave home because they feel unloved and unwanted.  Others
run away because they actually are not welcomed at home,
for one reason or another.

     Throughout the kingdom of God, thousands of God's child-
ren have turned back into the world, leaving the fold of God
in search of "freedom" from God's demands.  They are also
running from the watchful eye of elders and other members
of the family of God.  These are spiritual runaways who have
disassociated themselves from the body of Christ.

     It is nothing less than a terrible tragedy that so many mem-
bers of the church have gone astray.  Like sheep wandering
away from the fold, they have placed themselves in great spir-
itual danger.  Peter declares that a Christian who migrates
back into the world is in an ugly predicament.  "...The latter
end is worse for them than the beginning.  For it would have
been better for them not to have known the way of righteous-
ness, than after they have known it to turn from the holy com-
mandment delivered to them.  But it has happened to them 
according to the true proverb: 'The dog returns to his own
vomit,' and 'The sow, that had washed to her wallowing  in
the mire.'" (2 Pet. 2:21,22).  The writer of Hebrews explains
that those who do not endure, but draw back, do so to the
condemnation of their own souls, Heb. 10:26-29.

     Most every church has members who have "run away" from duty.  They no 
longer attend and if we are not careful,
we may even forget they exist.  Too often, we fail in our duty
to "round up the strays."  In some cases, a "runaway" might
not even be missed fro quite some time.  Even after a year or
more, someone may inquire "I wonder what every happened
to John and Mary Doe?  I never see them at a Bible class or
worship service anymore."  What a shame!  How pitiful when
some of the sheep have jumped the fence and we are so busy
we don't even take notice!  Elders, as shepherds, do have 
primary responsibility to watch out for souls, Heb. 13:17.  But
every faithful Christian is charged to "restore" those "over-
taken in a fault" (Gal. 6:1).

     Perhaps a runaway is reading these lines.  If so, please
know that God still loves and cares for you.  So do your bro-
thers and sisters in Christ.  We all want you to come home
and take your place with the family of God.  --- Mark White via
Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 11, Mar. 18, 2007.   </HTML>
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