Can you identify the lost person in this list?
- The alcoholic who now lives on his own because his family kicked him out.
- The teenage girl who just learned that she is pregnant and who is contemplating an abortion.
- The business executive who is on the verge of suicide because he can’t take the pressure and is finding life meaningless.
- The preacher who has been sexually molesting children for years and sees nothing wrong with it.
- The husband who prefers pornography over intimacy with his wife.
- The college student who is struggling with what gender they should declare themselves to be.
- The fourteen year old boy who has strong sexual urges towards males and does not know how to tell his parents.
- The policeman who has crossed over the line and is now selling narcotics alongside of arresting people for having them in their possession.
Perhaps your answer is, “All of them”.
For many people reading the above list, they might respond in the same way. As we think about each of the situations described above, it isn’t hard to equate them with someone being “lost” on some level. When we hear about circumstances like these we usually shake our head and wonder if the person will ever find their way through the mess their lives have become, or what other problems will surface because of their choices.
As “lost” as any of these people might be, their situations don’t address what it means to be lost in the biblical sense. Luke 19:10 says that Jesus came to “seek and save the lost”. What we learn as we read the scriptures is that “the lost” does not refer to someone’s earthly circumstances, but how their sin has broken their fellowship with God and how they, if they remain in this condition, will spend an eternity in Hell separated from God. As difficult as any one of those circumstances described above is, they all pale in comparison to how horrible it will be for the “eternally lost”. On a more positive note, as lost as each of those described individuals is, there is nothing that they have done which excludes them from receiving forgiveness and eternal life with God if they become born-again. The sobering thing is that sometimes we express the greatest concern over these types of earthly circumstances and give little thought to the eternal damnation that awaits some people. Perhaps the thought of someone being separated from God for all eternity is just too much for us to handle so we push it off in our minds.
I believe that it is important for us to take our cue from God. When Jesus came he didn’t come and say, “ I have come to save those who are in really bad life circumstances”. No, God’s Word says, 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45.
Although God mourns all of the circumstances described above, He is most concerned about the eternal destination of a person. So much so that His mission was to come to earth and offer himself as a ransom for many that people may have a means by which all of their sins would be forgiven.
Now you might be saying, “Rob, this is not a very “Christmassy” message but in actuality it is. Do you remember what was said of Jesus around the time of His birth (and dedication at the Temple) by Simeon?
28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[a] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.” – Luke 2:28-32
My eyes have seen your salvation….my eyes have seen your salvation.
God cares deeply about each person who is lost in the circumstances of this world, but His greater concern is that for any person, their eyes would see His salvation.
This Christmas, let us reflect on the “light for revelation” that was cast for all the spiritually lost. Let us rejoice that Jesus was born and then gave His life as a ransom for many so that those who are truly lost may find Him in whose name alone salvation can be found.
Merry Christmas,
Rob