What to Remember About the Lost
You and I are supposed to be like our Father in Heaven. However, how can we be like Him? We want the same family characteristics. People should look at us and call us “Christians,” that is, “little Christs,” because we’re running around trying to be like our Father. That’s what we want to do as we study Scriptures and God’s truth. With that in mind, let’s look at what God has to say about the lost. We should want to develop an attitude like His towards them, to see them from His point of view, from His heart.
First, the Lost Hide from God.
They’re born in the bushes. Genesis 3:8, “The man and his wife (Adam and Eve) heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees.”
When sin entered the world, Adam and Eve hid in the trees. They got lost in the forest. They hid behind the bushes. And from that moment on, mankind has been born out there in the woods. They’re separated from God, hiding from His presence. A natural reaction for those without Christ is to hide from God. They fear Him and flee from confrontation. That’s their nature.
Second, the Lost Come in All Shapes and Sizes.
You can find them everywhere. Romans 3:9-12, “What then, are we better than them? Not at all. We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. For there is none righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands. No one seeks God. All have turned away. They have together become worthless. There is no one who does good, not even one.”
A man named Ace has an Anglo father and Native American mother. He’s not always accepted in either group. But he grew up a good athlete in high school. Ace was always friendly and outgoing to me and my family but over the years, we watched his life go downhill. He turned into a violent young man who wanted quick wealth. He operated a lucrative fireworks’ stand on the reservation where, with a permit, you can sell any fireworks made on earth. Other places most would be illegal.
Ace also won $15,000 in a lottery. He bought a new pickup truck with his winnings and totaled it DUI three weeks later. I’m afraid lately he’s been dealing drugs. Ace is a young man obviously steeped in sinful practices. He’s lost.
Other Lost People
A high school senior gal won state drama and academic excellence contests. When I talked to a school group, she told me about her future. She wants to write someday. She comes from a stable family and aims for a university education. Her mental and social capacities guarantee she can do about anything she wants. But she’s lost. She doesn’t know the Lord at all.
Dave is a prince of a guy. Good athlete in high school and college, as well as good student and leader. He runs a Girls & Boys Club kind of year-round recreation program. He does a great job and loves working with kids. Very respectful to elders, he’s the kind of guy you’d want your daughter to marry, except he doesn’t know the Lord. He’s also lost.
Mrs. Majors comes to the church most every week for the last fifty years. She sits in the back, pays her tithes, and does many good deeds for the poor. She supports all the church programs. A pleasant person, she’s loved by everyone. But she’s lost. She doesn’t yet know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
God’s Generous Blessings to All
Third, the sun will continue to shine on lost people. God will bless them. Matthew 5:45, “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” God provides sun and rain and beautiful landscapes to everyone. Often, He gives strong, healthy children, a job to enjoy, and material possessions. The sun shines on the lost, as well as the saved.
Fourth, the lost have potential to accomplish great things for God. According to Genesis 1:27, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Lost people were created in the image of the creator. Therefore, they have loaded within them tremendous potential.
Every great spiritual advancement that ever took place on this earth, was led by someone previously lost and now saved. That’s the only kind of people there are. Within those we now called ‘lost,’ resides tremendous potential for what God might want to do. In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul says, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” God recognized the great potential in Paul.
Not All Is Roses
Fifth, they don’t have a rosy future. Revelation 20:11-15, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to their deeds, to what they had done as recorded in the books. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
When we think about specific lost persons, we’re afraid to consider this. My heart breaks, as I’m sure yours does, for those we know and care about who are lost. This is their future. In theory, that might be fine. We know some go to heaven and some go someplace else. But when we talk about people with names whom we love, that’s really hard. However, we must remember the future of the lost is not good.
Jesus Cares
Sixth, Jesus doesn’t intend any to remain lost. 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” And Luke 15:4, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost?”
Jesus doesn’t want anyone to stay lost. He desires they come out of the bushes and forest, from behind the trees, and find a relationship with Him. That means my acquaintances, like Ace and Dave, the young girl in high school, and Mrs. Majors at the back of the church. As you and I go through our lives and look around at those without Christ, Jesus cares about your husband or wife, your son or daughter, or your lost neighbor. He has no intention for those on the other side of town, or those in the prisons, or those in the streets that should be in prison, to remain as they are. He desires they walk away from lostness and repent.
Facing the Enemy
Seventh, Satan actively tries to steal, kill, and destroy the lost. That’s what he’s up to all the time. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
Satan attempts to steal away love and faith, to kill relationships and destroy lives. That’s Satan’s job. The truth of that hits me hard right now. As he’s busy stealing, killing, destroying, we’re lulled into the media’s view of what hell’s like and society’s idea of who the devil is. We’ve been deceived to think hell’s where bad people go, but at least they get along with each other there. Or we believe, yes, Satan is evil, but evil people stick together. And he likes them. But Satan has no love whatsoever. And if he can use anyone to destroy others, he’ll do that, until they’re useless. Then he’ll destroy them too.
Sometimes the lost act out publicly as evil and repulsive. Others seem like wonderful people. The enemy is involved in each of their lives trying to steal, kill, and destroy them, however he can.
Jesus’ Love
Eighth, Jesus deeply loves the lost. They’re the only kind of people He saves. Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man came to seek and to save what was lost.” The incredible drama on the Cross took place for them.
We get to see the world a little different because of Christ. At one time we lived out there in the bushes behind the trees. We might have seen God as something or someone to be feared. So, we tried all kinds of ways to get away from that fear. One way, we believed He didn’t exist. And tried all sorts of ways to hide from Him. We saw the world from that perspective.
But once we accept Christ, we step out of that world. Then, we can look back. We see the ones Jesus came to die for and He knows exactly what they’re like. That used to be us.
He looks at Ace as a young life messed up. I think he’s only days or months away from being destroyed. But Jesus says, “That’s the kind of person I came to save.” He looks at a self-righteous person who thinks they’re doing everything right and they’re as good as anyone else on the planet. And they are nice people. But He looks at them and says, “That’s the kind of person I came to save.” They’re both lost. So, when we look out at those in the bushes or lost in the woods, separated from God, we need to realize, “There’s a person Jesus died for. And there’s another. And another.”
We’re in a Fierce Battle
Ninth, we cannot give them up to Satan without a fight. Luke 22:31, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded permission to sift you as wheat.” Jesus is saying to Peter, “Satan has accused you of some horrible sin and he says you are rightly his.” The role of Satan is to accuse, and he does a good job of it. And he made his case about Peter for past and future sins about denying Christ. They were so egregious that Satan demanded full control of Peter’s life.
But in verse 32, Jesus says, “I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Jesus is not going to give up Peter without a fight. We cannot give up either. That has come closer to home as I have looked at the lost in our own community. A few I wish would move to Seattle. It doesn’t seem like we’re doing them any good and they’re doing harm in our community. But that would be to give them up without a battle. We can’t do that. There has to be someone, some saint somewhere, praying, sharing, and working on that person’s behalf until they’re either saved or destroyed.
Win Some, Lose Some
I’m not naive. I know we’re going to win some battles and lose others. We read the Scriptures and know there will be some people in hell. That means we don’t reach everybody. But we can still fight. We can make sure no one goes down without somebody struggling tooth and nail to the end for them. Perhaps it’s a prayer vigil or other spiritual battle. But we cannot just give them over to Satan.
A Time to Celebrate!
Tenth, the lost are the source of heaven’s greatest joy. “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 need no repentance. I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:7,10).
In a battle, when you’re about to lose, and it looks like the enemy’s going to crush you, yet somehow you have the strength to keep fighting. You turn that battle around right when all looks hopeless. What a tremendous victory!
Look around. You have some lost ones in your area. Perhaps they’re your contacts, in your neighborhood, or at church. Some people near you may be on the verge of destruction. They’re almost gone. What joy when that’s turned around! With God’s help and the Spirit’s work in and through our lives, God’s salvation can reach out to them.
No One Beyond Reach
Some that we consider the hardest and worst of all cases might bring great joy and delight when they come to Christ.
What does the heavenly Father think about the lost? We all came from that pool of people. It’s the only kind of people He has to work with. Some of us have experienced that great joy of knowing Christ. Now it’s time to reach out a hand to the other side. Help a few more to the cross. May our compassion lead to positive, Holy Spirit led action.
Stephen Bly
Copyright©1993
Life Maze Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
Lost & Found Image by Jan Alexander from Pixabay
Praying Man Image by Pexels from Pixabay
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“10 Things About the Lost” audio podcast by award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Recorded 1993 at Cannon Beach, Oregon, CRISTA Ministries Conference. Sponsored by BlyBooks.com Legacy Series.
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