"LOST"

The definition of Lost means “Unable to find one's way”. I want to spend some time talking about being spiritual lost. Before there were GPS systems I was one of those guys who always got lost. Being lost can be very frustrating especially when you’re late and running out of time. Being lost spiritually is much more frustrating. I travel a lot and I honestly can say life is so much easier with a GSP system. Even when I get lost my GPS says “Recalculating Route”. I’m so grateful that as Christian we have Christ which is our spiritual GPS and when you get lost he will direct you back on track. No matter how many wrong turns you make God will always say “Recalculating Route”. Psalm 119:105 says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. If you put your trust in God he will always direct your path. One of the biggest misconception of the church is when people think they can’t be lost because they go to Church. You can be a faithful member of a church, be on every board and committee and still be lost. The spirit of being lost does not care whether you belong to a church or not. Let’s take a look at the Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin Luke 15:1-10. For teaching purposes let me explain what a parable is. A parable is a short story designed to convey a concept to be understood and/or a principle to be put into practice. The word “parable” in Greek literally means, “to set beside” as in the English word “comparison” or “similitude.” In the Jewish culture, things were explained not in terms of statistics or definitions as they are in English speaking cultures. In the Jewish culture of Biblical times, things were explained in “word pictures”. Jesus taught some of his greatest lessons by parables. Let us begin with the parable of the Lost Sheep.

Parable of the Lost Sheep
Luke 15:4-7 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 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 do not need to repent.”
Jesus taught this story to the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. As the church of the living God we must be willing to go outside of the 4 walls of the church and find the lost. The last chapter’s of Matthew, Mark and Luke Jesus ends with the same message. Go into all nations. As the church we can not lose focus of what the Lord has commanded us to do which is GO OUT . It’s funny how Jesus said this particular shepherd had 100 sheep and lost one. So many pastors think that because they have big numbers in there church that God is pleased. Jesus makes it clear he is more concerned about the one lost sheep then he is about the 99 that were in place. Let’s not get so comfortable in church until we forget that we are called to be disciples and to proclaim the good news that Jesus died and rose again on the 3rd day. Let’s move on to the Lost Coin.
Parable of the Lost Coin

Luke 15:8-10 "Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Let us understand something the woman has lost a coin but she did not lose it outside. The scripture clearly states that the woman lost the coin IN THE HOUSE. This proves that you can be in the house of God and still be lost. The bible shows that the woman lights a lamp and sweeps the house looking for the lost coin. That is what our pastor’s should be doing when one is lost in our places of worship. They should be lighting the lamp and sweeping the house. The major difference with the coin and the sheep is that the sheep is able to make noise to let the flock and the shepherd know they have gone astray. The coin or should I say the person in the house usually gets lost without telling anyone (Coins don’t have a voice). People of God I strongly believe that we have an obligation to minister to people that have gone astray. James 5:20 says “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” As I am closing today’s blog I pray that we all take a good look at the place we are in life. I ask you could you be lost and not realize it? After all the first question God ever asked man was “WHERE ART THOU”.


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