We always hear about criminals, swindlers and thieves. Our world is truly an unsafe place. There are still many honest people, however, whose only purpose in life is to brighten the lives of others.

As I began my work day one morning, I had no idea that I had lost my cellphone. In fact, when the call came in from the office that my cellphone was at the police station across the road, I didn’t really believe it. I couldn’t overlook the fact, however, that the call had come in from a very reliable source: My own wife! But my phone was right…oh dear…I truly had lost my phone!

Apparently my phone had slipped from my belt when I got out of my car that morning. It was picked up by an elderly lady, and before turning it in to the police station, she texted my sons and my wife to let them know where my phone could be found.

I was very pleased; but the story didn’t end there. Four weeks later, as I got out of my car, an elderly lady approached me with a big smile on her face.

“Did you get your cellphone back?” She asked.

Amazed, I stuttered: “Uh…Yes…Are you the one who found it?”

She sure was. For four weeks she had tried to spot my car, just to make sure that the lost had, indeed, been found. What a sweetheart!

There is hope in our world, when people think of others first.

But then, hope was given to us by the Most High, when His Son came to our neighborhood, roughly 2000 years ago, defeating death through His selfless act on the cross. He, too, cared more about others than Himself. To Him, bringing people to the very doors of heaven was His ultimate goal.

We, too, had lost something way more important than a cellphone. Due to our selfish pursuits, we had become estranged from our Heavenly Father. We were living like there was no tomorrow.

It all changed when Jesus showed up and brought us a hope that will last for eternity.

Yes, we had brought upon ourselves that fearful word, “death,” which has haunted every human being since Adam. But it can no longer be a threat to us, for it has been defeated!

“But we know it now. Since the appearance of our Savior, nothing could be plainer: death defeated, life vindicated in a steady blaze of light, all through the work of Jesus.” (2Tim 1:10, MSG)

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1Cor 15:55, NIV2)

One simple birth in Bethlehem, directed by the Most High, brought us such hope that we now can truly say: “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Cor 15:57, NIV2)

May we rejoice this Christmas in our restored hope. We were once thoroughly lost, but now we can be reunited with our Father who truly loves us. Yahoo! No better hope can there be!

If you are still one of the lost ones, come to your Father unreservedly and find yourself being embraced by the pure love He has for you. He sure loves you!

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Hope on the Horizon” devotional series, please click here.)