A Heart for the Lost

Last year our children were playing in a ball pool when they discovered a wallet filled with cash. Fortunately, the wallet had an address in it, so it was easy to return to the owner on his farm. When the wallet was handed over to the wife of the owner, she was very thankful and rewarded our ball pool scavengers with £20, and she then named their new-born calf after one of our children. It was a time of joy for the owner, and it was a time of joy for our children, because there is great joy in finding what was once lost.

God finds great joy in finding what is lost too. The bible says, ‘the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10). The reason God came into this world was so he could find those who are lost, those who are without God in their lives. Jesus came to spend time with the lost to find them and bring them into his kingdom. But not everyone around Jesus had the same heart – ‘Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. ² And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2. The religious leaders of the time didn’t understand Jesus or what he was doing – ‘So he told them this parable…’ (Luke 15:3).

1. THE HEART OF GOD IS TO PROTECT THE LOST – “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?’ (Luke 15:4). Like a shepherd who knows how dangerous it is for a sheep to be lost, so the heart of God has great concern to find those who are lost, because without him they are facing eternity outside of God’s kingdom. The religious leaders thought it was spiritually dangerous to be near the lost, whereas Jesus knew that the lost were in spiritual danger if they were not near to him. We need a heart that is in tune with God’s heart – that views unbelievers as lost sheep who need pointing towards the shepherd of their souls.

2. THE HEART OF GOD SEES GREAT VALUE IN THE LOST – “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?” (Luke 15:8). The religious leaders of the time viewed the lost as worthless, but the Lord Jesus sees the lost as having great worth; like a valuable coin that is lost and is worth finding. We need to be like Jesus, to see the lost as valuable and take great interest in seeking to find them and point them to Jesus.

3. THE HEART OF GOD REJOICES IN FINDING THE LOST / ‘And when he has found [the lost sheep], he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’ (Luke 15:5-7) / ‘And when she has found [the lost coin], she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:9-10). The heart of God rejoices at seeing sinners turn to Jesus, and this should make our hearts rejoice too. I remember when we found a purse one of our children had lost, and we celebrated with great joy. There is great joy in finding what was once lost. How much more of a joy is it to see those who are lost be found, those who do not know Jesus come to know him, the one who paid the price for their sin. So let’s follow Jesus when he says to us, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19).