Eleven-year-old Brennan Hawkins was LOST. He was last seen on Friday, June 17,
2005 at a Boy Scout Camp in rugged northeast Utah. A climbing wall supervisor
said he had seen Hawkins removing his climbing gear, but the boy failed to show
up for dinner an hour later.
An intensive search began involving as many as 3,000 volunteers. Searchers set
out on foot, on horseback and all-terrain vehicles to find Hawkins. Authorities
feared Brennan might have fallen into the fast-running Bear River . The
searchers scoured the area, searching both mountains and rivers.
Four days later, Brennan Hawkins was FOUND. Two volunteer searchers came across
the boy around noon (3 p.m. ET) about 1.5 miles south of Lily Lake , approx.
five miles from the Boy Scout Camp. Hawkins was found alive and “in remarkably
good shape, given the ordeal he’s been through,” said Dr. Edward Clark, medical
director of Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the outcome of this,” said his uncle, Bob
Hawkins. "This is the GREATEST outcome we could expect."
Jody Hawkins, Brennan’s mother, said, “We're here to unequivocally tell you that
Heaven is NOT closed, prayers ARE answered, and children DO come home.”
We rejoice with the Dawkins family and our gratitude is extended to those
thousands of searchers who gave of their time and effort to find Brennan
Dawkins. We are thankful to God for a happy ending to this ordeal!
Brennan’s experiences teach us some things about our OWN condition…
Because of our sin, YOU and I are LOST, in desperate need of salvation (Romans
6:23). But because of His great love for us, God sent His Son to our rescue.
Jesus said, "For the Son of Man has come to SEEK and to SAVE that which was
LOST" (Luke 19:10). Through His death on the cross, Jesus “blazed a trail” for
US to find OUR way home to God. Jesus said, “I AM the WAY, the TRUTH, and the
LIFE. NO ONE- comes to the Father except through ME” (John 14:6). The way home
is through Christ: believing in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin to Him in
repentance (Acts 17:30-31) confessing Him before men (1 Timothy 6:12), and being
baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38;
Galatians 3:26-37).
THEN... as -HIS- children, we must continue to follow Christ through this life
until we reach OUR heavenly home (Rev 2:10).
Yes, Mrs. Hawkins, thanks be to God that through His Son, Jesus Christ......
Heaven is NOT closed, prayers ARE answered and -HIS- children DO come home!
Are YOU lost or found? God bless you!
David A. Sargent creekwood@comcast.net
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