In colloquial English, figurative use of the word “lost” permeates the lexicon of everyday speech.  Examples like the following spring to mind without effort:

• “I’m lost” (meaning, “I don’t understand”).
• “You lost me” (meaning, “I don’t see the connection to what you said just prior”).
• “Lost in the woods” (meaning, “clueless” or “Too much detail!  What’s your point?”).
• “He’s lost his mind” (meaning, “He’s no longer in possession of his mental faculties”).
• “He [or she] has lost heart, nerve, hope, will…” etc. 
• “She lost it” (meaning, she became enraged or threw a temper tantrum).
• “We lost” (meaning, “We did not win [or tie]”).
• “You’re a loser” (meaning, “You are a failure by nature”).
• “I’d be lost without you” (meaning, “You’re essential to my success or wellbeing”).
• “He’s lost his way” (meaning, a series of bad choices is making good ones more difficult).

When applied to consequential things, the things we value most, the word “lost” assumes much greater significance, taking on a gravity no mere figure of speech can command.  You can all but feel the intensity of the suffering behind phrases like, “My family lost everything when the market crashed” or “I lost my wife last year.”  But as grievous as such losses are, they do not compare with getting lost ourselves.  It’s one thing to talk about loss and quite another to actually BE lost.  There is something primal about that particular experience, something pointedly personal.  It is not difficult to see why.  

From our earliest autonomous and ambulatory days [i.e. when we first discover our own feet and become aware that we can use them to wander off the beaten path] we are exposed to the very real risk of becoming lost and having to cope with what that means.

To be suddenly cut off from anyone who knows and loves you, in totally unfamiliar territory, and surrounded by strangers is awful.  To be completely bewildered as to how this has happened and having not the first idea of how to get back where you came from is worse.  It’s terrifying.  It typically induces panic, loneliness, feelings of helpless despair and tears of self-pity.  Even after our rescue, a painful memory lingers in the subconscious mind for some time to come, along with a haunting dread that we may be similarly lost again someday—perhaps for good.

This subliminal anxiety is known by our Creator to exist in the human heart, though it may have lain dormant since childhood.  It is used by Him as part of the software of self-preservation with which He has lovingly equipped us.  God also uses it to communicate with us on an instinctive, visceral level.  Jesus used it:

“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.”  (Luke 15:3-10)

A third parable in the same chapter of Luke’s gospel, is one of Jesus’ greatest and most beloved illustrations—the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).  It ends with the words: “It was meet [only right] that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”

Not long after telling this story, Jesus succinctly defined His mission in coming to earth the first time.  Calling Himself by a familiar nickname from the Bible, He said: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  (Luke 19:10)

By “lost” Jesus referred in part to the spiritual condition of most human beings—deceived, befuddled, confused, rebellious…separated from God by their sin.  This is a serious situation, but not a catastrophic one—at least, not yet.  Although they may be stubbornly refusing to come to the light, stumbling around in the dark, hurting themselves and others, lurching further and further away from home, there is still hope.  While there is breath in the body and will in the heart, people may still believe, repent, and be saved.

Notice that Jesus did NOT say that the purpose of His first coming was to condemn and punish sinners.  Many non-Christians believe (or pretend to believe) that this was His objective.  God’s word says otherwise:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  (John 3:16-18)

All signs point to the soon return of Jesus Christ to judge and to rule the earth.  It is heartbreaking that multitudes who rejected Him as Savior will meet Him as Judge, instead.  They will ultimately face God’s wrath.  But the real tragedy is, that they could have avoided this fate by accepting the pardon Jesus suffered and died to give them…yet chose not to!

Are YOU lost, under God’s condemnation, staring down the double barrels of death and hell, destined to spend eternity without Christ, without relief, without mercy?  Have no fear.  God has provided a means of escape.  He sent His Son Jesus, to seek you out BECAUSE you are lost.  Jesus doesn’t hate you.  He loves you and proved it on the cross.  He yearns to rejoice over you.  So do His holy angels.  And so do I. Jesus longs to save you, if you will only repent of your sin, turn to God, and accept by faith, His gift of eternal life.  To find out how, read on.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words, and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can transform you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams, and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”  (Isaiah 59:2)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  (Romans 10:9-10)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (I John 5:13)