The headlines yesterday referenced no less than five different stories about individuals who had tragically gone missing only later to be found dead. In all such cases, my heart aches for the victims and their loved ones. I’m sure you feel much the same.
Sadly, however, this is merely reflective of the fallen world in which we live. In Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve sinned against God. As a result, both they and the world they inhabited were thenceforth cursed. It is not surprising, therefore, that just one chapter later, in Genesis chapter 4, their eldest son, Cain, murdered their only other son, Abel.
Thenceforward, evil has only continued, in both frequency and intensity. It is for this very reason, perhaps, that another headline from yesterday so captivated my attention and encouraged my heart. It read: “North Carolina US Marshal Discusses Finding Mother, Daughter Missing for 5+ Years”. Now there is reason to rejoice!
In the article, which appeared on www.FoxNews.com on January 30, 2022, Audrey Conklin relates how U.S. Marshals for the Eastern District of North Carolina, working with other government agencies, recently discovered of a North Carolina mother and daughter who had been missing for five long years.
It seems that Amber Weber and her daughter, Miracle Smith, were first reported missing on Jan. 31, 2017, but were actually last seen back on Dec. 4, 2016, when Weber was 21 and Smith was just a year old. Leads into the missing pair's disappearance continued to come in, but all came up dead for five years until 2021. It was then that officials got a lead that led them to a rural property site, where Weber and her daughter were eventually found.
The pair, both of whom were both previous victims of abuse, was recovered on Tuesday at a home on Lemon Lane in Bunnlevel, North Carolina. At that time, authorities also recovered Weber's second child, who had never been reported missing. At long last, a missing mother and child(ren) had all been found!
The article further details the arrest of the individual believed responsible for their alleged abduction and confinement. It reads: “Imagine two roads that intersect in very rural farmland … and there's probably about five or six different houses along these two … roads that intersect,” East explained, adding that “basically everybody living in that area was family or related to” Joe Smith, whom authorities believe may be associated with Weber's and Miracle's disappearance.
Thereafter, according to a press release, officials transported Miracle and “her sibling” to the Harnett County Department of Social Services for “victim assistance”. Hopefully, the newly rediscovered persons will soon be able to resume a normal and productive life.
As I read this story, I could not help but be reminded of the story Jesus once told, as recorded in the New Testament Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 11-31, about a father who lost one of his two beloved sons; yet, after a period of time, suddenly found him again.
That story, of course, is the famed “Parable of the Prodigal Son”, which recounts how the younger son came to the father and requested his inheritance, and then ventured away. But even though he was gone for quite some time, and even though his whereabouts in the meantime were unknown, his father never gave up hoping that he would be found.
In time, the son managed freedom from the sinful constraints that had once enslaved him, and made his way back home. Then, in verses 20 through 24, Jesus clearly stresses how happy the father was to see his son once again...
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him… The father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’”
At last, his missing son had been found!
Can you relate? Have you ever lost something dear to you and then found it again? More to the point, have you ever lost a person dear to you and one day found him or her again? If so, then you can appreciate not only this story in the news, but also the point of Jesus’ parable, which is how much our Heavenly Father rejoices when we, who have been lost to Him spiritually through sin are miraculously found and returned to Him through the redemptive effort of His Son, and our Savior, Jesus Christ!
May this one great truth resonate with you both this day and forevermore: At last, you have been found! The God Who created you has also redeemed you! And His testimony is clear: “Let us now celebrate. For this child of mine which was dead and gone is now alive again! The one who was dear to me and who was lost has now gloriously been found!” And that, my friend, is clearly reason to rejoice!
ARTICLE SOURCE: https://www.foxnews.com/us/north-carolina-us-marshal-amber-weber-miracle-smith-missing. The reporter, Audrey Conklin, is a digital reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. She requests that tips for stories be emailed to audrey.conklin@fox.com or on Twitter at @audpants.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/bsb/luke/15.htm.
Sadly, however, this is merely reflective of the fallen world in which we live. In Genesis chapter 3, Adam and Eve sinned against God. As a result, both they and the world they inhabited were thenceforth cursed. It is not surprising, therefore, that just one chapter later, in Genesis chapter 4, their eldest son, Cain, murdered their only other son, Abel.
Thenceforward, evil has only continued, in both frequency and intensity. It is for this very reason, perhaps, that another headline from yesterday so captivated my attention and encouraged my heart. It read: “North Carolina US Marshal Discusses Finding Mother, Daughter Missing for 5+ Years”. Now there is reason to rejoice!
In the article, which appeared on www.FoxNews.com on January 30, 2022, Audrey Conklin relates how U.S. Marshals for the Eastern District of North Carolina, working with other government agencies, recently discovered of a North Carolina mother and daughter who had been missing for five long years.
It seems that Amber Weber and her daughter, Miracle Smith, were first reported missing on Jan. 31, 2017, but were actually last seen back on Dec. 4, 2016, when Weber was 21 and Smith was just a year old. Leads into the missing pair's disappearance continued to come in, but all came up dead for five years until 2021. It was then that officials got a lead that led them to a rural property site, where Weber and her daughter were eventually found.
The pair, both of whom were both previous victims of abuse, was recovered on Tuesday at a home on Lemon Lane in Bunnlevel, North Carolina. At that time, authorities also recovered Weber's second child, who had never been reported missing. At long last, a missing mother and child(ren) had all been found!
The article further details the arrest of the individual believed responsible for their alleged abduction and confinement. It reads: “Imagine two roads that intersect in very rural farmland … and there's probably about five or six different houses along these two … roads that intersect,” East explained, adding that “basically everybody living in that area was family or related to” Joe Smith, whom authorities believe may be associated with Weber's and Miracle's disappearance.
Thereafter, according to a press release, officials transported Miracle and “her sibling” to the Harnett County Department of Social Services for “victim assistance”. Hopefully, the newly rediscovered persons will soon be able to resume a normal and productive life.
As I read this story, I could not help but be reminded of the story Jesus once told, as recorded in the New Testament Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 11-31, about a father who lost one of his two beloved sons; yet, after a period of time, suddenly found him again.
That story, of course, is the famed “Parable of the Prodigal Son”, which recounts how the younger son came to the father and requested his inheritance, and then ventured away. But even though he was gone for quite some time, and even though his whereabouts in the meantime were unknown, his father never gave up hoping that he would be found.
In time, the son managed freedom from the sinful constraints that had once enslaved him, and made his way back home. Then, in verses 20 through 24, Jesus clearly stresses how happy the father was to see his son once again...
“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him… The father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’”
At last, his missing son had been found!
Can you relate? Have you ever lost something dear to you and then found it again? More to the point, have you ever lost a person dear to you and one day found him or her again? If so, then you can appreciate not only this story in the news, but also the point of Jesus’ parable, which is how much our Heavenly Father rejoices when we, who have been lost to Him spiritually through sin are miraculously found and returned to Him through the redemptive effort of His Son, and our Savior, Jesus Christ!
May this one great truth resonate with you both this day and forevermore: At last, you have been found! The God Who created you has also redeemed you! And His testimony is clear: “Let us now celebrate. For this child of mine which was dead and gone is now alive again! The one who was dear to me and who was lost has now gloriously been found!” And that, my friend, is clearly reason to rejoice!
ARTICLE SOURCE: https://www.foxnews.com/us/north-carolina-us-marshal-amber-weber-miracle-smith-missing. The reporter, Audrey Conklin, is a digital reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. She requests that tips for stories be emailed to audrey.conklin@fox.com or on Twitter at @audpants.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/bsb/luke/15.htm.