“Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.’” (Luke 19:9-10 NLT)
Our natural instinct, our “knee jerk” response to losing something is to go into panic mode, then to begin an extensive search until what we have lost is found or hopelessly lost. Think of a lost key to your house or car; a lost pet; a lost wallet; credit card; job; or child. Obviously, some things we lose are a much higher priority than others, but I believe we get a glimpse into the heart of our heavenly Father when we allow ourselves to consider our state of mind, heart, and soul if we lose a child, not in death, but by carelessness.
What are often the first words out of someone’s mouth, irrespective of whether they believe in God: “O God!” Why is it that our thoughts automatically turn to God when something happens in our life that is out of our control? Is it simply a subliminal thought that surfaces when we feel helpless?
What if someone takes our child, not because we were careless, but because of something beyond our control? Where does our mind go then? Or what if they go out to play or out with friends and get lost, due to no one’s fault? Then you have a whole new set of scenarios!
Now consider how God feels when a person He created, and loves chooses a path that separates that child from Him. And yes, of course, there’s no way anyone can escape from God’s attention. God is ever-present, so He knows where every person on earth is in every second, but what if the “child” chooses to separate themselves from God’s intended purpose and desire for them?
Think of the prodigal son in Luke 15. One day he decides he’s finished with his father’s orders and demands and makes his own demand: “I want my share of your estate now before you die.” While it may be a demand most fathers today would flat out refuse, in the culture of Jesus’ day it wasn’t that unusual and would have been a very real scenario for His listeners of wealth.
If you’re familiar with the story you know that there was no apparent effort made to talk the son out of leaving or to locate him once he was gone. Somehow the prodigal’s brother seemed to know he squandered his newfound wealth on women and wild living, but the point isn’t what he did while he was “lost,” but what changed in his heart and mind to point him back in a direction of his father.
Enter you and me! Why isn’t our natural instinct as a Christ follower to pursue those who are “lost,” those who are wandering or who have wandered far from God? Isn’t our desire to have the heart of the Father? Shouldn’t “seeking…those who are lost” be in our DNA?
Sadly, it’s not for most professing Jesus followers, but why not? Do we not understand it’s not our responsibility to bring them home? If you think about it, we’re not going to change anyone’s mind anyway. That’s the Holy Spirit’s role. So, what’s OUR role?
Sometimes I wonder how the prodigal would have responded if his older brother had found him and showed genuine love for him, inviting him home? No one knows for sure, but this much I know – no prodigal will come home unless and until someone gives them a valid reason. If you’re a believer, what was it for you? Why did you decide to come home to the Father? Very likely the same reason the prodigal did – you ran out of options.
Who in your spheres of influence is out of options? Who is it that you love who might just listen to you if you’d show some genuine, God-inspired interest? Think about it. Pray about it. I believe the Lord will bring that person to your remembrance and will also give you direction in how to find and reach them.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 