Today, I saw something at Wal-Mart that I had never seen before. In the middle of shopping, the loudspeaker buzzed to life and a less than calm voice said, "All employees, we've got a Code Adam."
In seconds, every employee was sprinting to the front doors. A few went outside to scan the parking lot, the others formed a wall blocking the exits. It was like an anthill had been kicked over.
Why?
Because a Code Adam means that a child has gone missing.
I imagine that most times, the child is found quickly and all is returned to right. That's what happened today. But for a few minutes, nothing in the store mattered as much as finding that missing kid. The world of commerce and price tags and sales figures stopped dead as they tried to locate a lost child.
I think that's how heaven is.
When I am lost. When like the prodigal son, I stumble from the father's grasp and gaze, I don't think He cries out "look at Jon sinning again! Look at him failing me again!" I think God cries out, "Code Jon! Code Jon!"
And then He rushes out into the parking lot, hoping to intercept me before I get in the wrong car, desperate to keep me from making the type of decision that is going to hurt me. Because He loves me. I am His delight. Just like you, I am the reason He rises in the morning. (Is. 30)
When I am lost He does more than just lock a store down. He sent his son to the cross for me. He speaks his message in a thousand ways every day. He would move the mountains and the cosmos if it meant I came home safe. If it meant I returned to the father and he could stop saying, "Code Jon, Code Jon."
Saturday, June 7, 2008
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19 comments:
this made me tear up a little bit. beautiful.
mmmm.... that was good.
Ok, I don't actually plan to comment on so many of your posts, but so many of them really speak to me! "I am the reason He rises in the morning. (Is. 30)" I'm going to have to write this one somewhere I see it all the time. Thanks.
this one made me cry........
i really needed someone to remind me of this today. again, you've given great insight and perspective into God and how he views us. great post, and seriously, thanks.
This post made me cry.
Thank you.
I'm speechless
I've been reading your blog(s) for awhile & have never commented, but this one I just had to. Thank you so much. I think it is something we all need to remember is that God does that for ME. He doesn't condemn but just wants us safely home with him. Thank you so much for this post.
i cried
That's so very true. Thankfully, the child was found and no harm came to him. This post made me think about the ones who weren't so lucky. And all the Code Adams for all those lost souls apart from their Father God. Wouldn't it be awesome if we all ran to the front doors and blocked the gates of hell with the urgency and teamwork shown by the Walmart employees today? If you've ever lost a child even for a few moments, you know that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. Imagine how God must feel...
PS - It's great to see you back over here, too!
I don't want to be the party pooper because this post is touching. But is it true? Does God chase us down when we wander away? Doesn't the story of the prodigal son say otherwise? See Luke 15.
Anon -
No, the father did not go to the pig pen, but the minute the son got up and the father saw him, he started running toward him. If he chased us down like you mentioned we wouldn't have free will. What we did wouldn't matter. A yes without the possibility of saying no isn't really a yes.
And my post doesn't say that he chases us down. It says that he looks for us. Which you proved perfectly by referring to Luke 15, for the father as watching the road. the father was looking for the son. Just like I said in the post. He noticed the son was missing and both he and the servants were on high alert. both he and the servants we."
were saying "code prodigal son
Jon
Thank you, Jon, for keeping this blog up. I love SCL, but your devotions are always heartfelt and timely.
Thank you, Jon, for keeping this blog up. I love SCL, but your devotions are so heartfelt, and what I need vs. what I want.
Wow.
Wow.
This spoke to me DIRECTLY.
Praise Him.
I didn't cry... but that was good bro. Thanks for that!
Good for people to know.
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