What about those who are lost?

Do we have the same sense of urgency for those who are lost and separated from God? Do we understand that God desires for all to be found?

I remember hearing of a family who went camping in a wilderness area. Their toddler somehow wandered away from the safety and security of her parents and their campground and was never found. She was but 3 years old. What was she thinking when she took those first steps away from safety? When did she know she was lost? Did she experience fear? What were her last moments on earth like? What ended her life? It's frightening to think about is it? A beloved child - safe one minute and in the blink of an eye too far from her parents to be protected and saved. Never to be seen again. No little body to bury. Leaving only a void that will never be filled. An ending known only to God.

 The Bible shares examples of things being lost in Luke 15. Verse 1 tells of a single sheep out of a flock of one hundred that wanders away but describes a determined shepherd who does not rest until that precious sheep is found. Verse 8 relates the story of a woman who misplaces but turns her house inside out looking for a lost coin - rejoicing when she has finally found it. Verse 11 beautifully tells the well known story of the Prodigal son who demands his inheritance and trades the love of his father for the cheap imitation to be found in immorality. He chooses licentiousness instead of a righteous life. His father let him go - and grieved for the son, loved him, and was overjoyed when his son came to his senses and returned home.

Sometimes we choose to be lost. Like the Prodigal son made a personal choice to walk away from all the goodness of his home and his family. There are those who deliberately choose Sin and turn their backs on God and His people.

Sometimes we find ourselves lost and far from God because we aren't diligent and become careless. We are so distracted by the things of this world, we wake up one day and wonder what happened; we ask ourselves "How did I end up here?" We may be like that lost sheep who simply wanders away or we may be more like Rehoboam who ended up choosing evil because he did not prepare his heart to diligently seek the Lord. 2 Chronicles 12:14.

Other times, circumstances beyond our control jolt our lives and cause us to stumble. A devastating illness distracts us. A family crisis that comes out of nowhere can derail us. We have been betrayed by others and for a time we are reeling emotionally and can't seem to find ourselves. We are like that coin that was not handled with care - through no fault of our own, we lose our way because the path was disturbed by others and we were detoured without realizing it.

Regardless of the reasons for being lost - God doesn't want us to stay that way. That one lost sheep had a shepherd who was willing to secure the other ninety-nine then go and find that one sheep. Not only did the shepherd seek until he found the lost one, he saved it and rejoiced over it's being found more so than for the ninety-nine who never strayed.

In much the same way, the woman who lost the single coin took no comfort in the nine remaining coins she held securely. She would not rest until she recovered the lost coin and was so overjoyed at finding it, she had to tell all her friends about it.

The pain of the father of the son whose chose to leave him is implied. We know the father had another son and great wealth but he loved the son. He loved him but let him go which must have been excruciating beyond description. Can you imagine the father's heartache when his beloved son demanded his inheritance and rubbed his ingratitude in the father's face by walking away from him? Can you imagine the father's joy when the son came to his senses and came home? The father had been looking for him - no one knows how long the father had waited and hoped to see his son but we know he was waiting and looking and saw the son coming home from a great distance. The son came home to a loving father who had been waiting with arms open wide. The father's focus was not on the wealth he had retained or the son who had been faithful but on that precious prodigal who found his way back.

What kind of lost were you? What kind of lost are you? Look around you. You don't have to look very far to see many who are lost. The Lord wants them to be found.

Do you agonize with the Lord over the many who are like the toddler who wanders away? Are you concerned for people who are like that one lost sheep who unknowingly leave the safety of the flock and the protection of the shepherd? Are we like the woman who has lost that single coin? Do we turn our lives upside down to find someone who has been carelessly treated and has been misplaced? What about that Prodigal who rebelliously chooses to leave all that is good and righteous? Do we become dedicated and vigilant while we hope for their return? Are we like the older brother - resentful if they do return to full fellowship without being penalized for their rebellion?

Remember this: God rejoices when the Lost become the Found. Luke 15:5 says that when a lost sheep is found, the shepherd rejoices and holds them close. When the lost coin is found due to the diligence of the woman, she is overjoyed. Luke 15:10 Jesus says, "In the same way, I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." In Luke 15:32 Jesus tells us to celebrate and rejoice for those who were once dead and lost who have begun to live and have been found.

Lord God, may we share your sense of urgency for the lost. If we can rejoice as ones who were once lost but are now among the found we praise Your Holy Name. May we be diligent in finding the lost and sharing the good news that they have a choice of being found. May we desire to see them reclaimed for Your Glory above all else. May we pray for those who have chosen to leave You - that they will one day return and when they do, please Lord let us welcome them home. In the name of our Shepherd and Savior we pray, Amen!