“Lost”

Matthew 18:11  “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”

All the time I will be at a convenience or department store getting a few things and I will see a sign that someone posted, saying that they had lost a pet and that if you have seen it to please give them a call. “Lost,” it will often read at the top of the page, accompanied with a picture of the animal, imploring people to please look for their lost pet. 

The word “lost” is defined as “having wandered away from, or unable to find, the way. It is something misplaced, the location of which is unknown.”

That definition is very fitting because Jesus is the way, as He taught in John 14:6, and because we are sinners we are all, at one point, lost in those sins. Lost and without hope. Like a wayward, wandering sheep that has strayed away from the shepherd’s flock.

Which is what Jesus likened the groups of people who followed after Him. Lost sheep. Jesus came to save those lost sheep, and He told a parable about it in Luke 15.

Luke 15:1-10  “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 

And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”

We are all like sheep gone astray. We are all lost in the darkness of our sins, away from the light that is found in Christ. We are called to find those lost sheep. We need to find them and lead them back to the Shepherd. We need to help let them back to Jesus. That is what the apostles did when they preached the gospel to others, trying to bring them into the sheepfold. Trying to bring them out of the darkness of the world and back into the Light.

Just like a family pet who has been found and brought back home safe and sound, great rejoicing happens when a sinner comes to Christ and repents from their sins. These stray sheep are everywhere, just waiting to be found. Will you go and search for them? Will you go and search for the lost?

In Christ,

Andrew