Cole
Geise, 22, of Olean, New York, went missing on May 2. His family had no
knowledge of his whereabouts. An intense search ensued. Approaching
two weeks since he went missing, his family had begun giving up hope.
“You get to day 13 and you start
wondering,” Cole’s father, Steve, told
WIVB.
“You wonder and you start getting a couple negative thoughts in your
head like, ‘Alright, why hasn’t he been seen? Where is he?’”
Finally,
Geise was spotted by a former classmate.
Lyaness
Batista-Benett, who was working as a shift supervisor at Wendy’s, saw
Geise walk in the restaurant last Saturday evening. “I’ve known Cole
since second grade,” Batista-Benett said. “I saw him walk in and it
instantly brought upon this feeling… It’s him!" Others in the
restaurant also recognized Geise from the police notices that had been
posted throughout the area in abundance.
Some who recognized Geise followed him at
a distance and called the police. Geise, who has been diagnosed with an
autism spectrum disorder, had been hiding out in an abandoned house.
Police picked him up safely and notified his parents. Later there was a
happy reunion for the Geise family at the police station.
Because of our sins, we’ve “gone missing.” We were created to be in
fellowship with God, but our sins separated us from Him and all the
blessings He intends for His children (Isaiah 59:1-2). Like lost sheep,
we have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6).
But God loves us so much
that He sent His Son to seek and to save us (John 3:16; Luke 19:10),
like a Shepherd seeking lost sheep.
In order to save us from
sin, the Good Shepherd had to lay down His life (John 10:17-18). He
died for us so that we might live (1 Thessalonians 5:10).
If we will submit our
lives to the Shepherd, He will save us and bring us into a heavenly,
eternal fold (John 10:10; Romans 6:23).
Jesus said, “Suppose one
of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the
ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he
finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and
says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in
the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who
repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to
repent” (Luke 15:4-7).
The Good Shepherd will save and give eternal life
to those who place their faith
and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from
their sins in repentance
(Acts 17:30-31),
confess Jesus
before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are
baptized (immersed) into Christ for the
forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse from sin
and keep safe those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1
John 1:7-9).
Lost sheep, won’t you
come home to the Shepherd?
-- David A. Sargent
* Information gleaned from “Good
Samaritans reunite New York man with family 2 weeks after going missing”
by Peter
Aitken of Fox
News,
www.foxnews.com.
David A. Sargent,
Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
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