I am sure that all of us, at one time or another, have lost something. It can be particularly distressing if it is something valuable, or even of sentimental value. We search high and low, and often will enlist the help of other family members, and frequently we will pray that God will lead us to where that lost item is. In our Scripture today from the Gospel of Luke, we read about two lost items, and the lengths that the owners went to find them again. Let’s take a look.
As our Scripture passage begins, the Lord Jesus had been talking and teaching the crowds who had gathered around Him. Among the crowds were some folks who many would classify as sinners. There were also plenty of Pharisees and scribes, two groups within the Jewish religion who very strictly obeyed and followed the Mosaic Law. These Pharisees started to criticize Jesus because He didn’t admonish these sinners for their actions, nor send them away. They despised these people, and thought that Jesus actually welcoming them to sit and listen was scandalous (vs. 1-2). Jesus heard their words, and proceeded to tell them two parables, to hopefully open their eyes to His ministry.
The first parable was about a lost sheep (vs. 4-7). Shepherds with their flocks of sheep was a common sight in the Holy Land at that time. Every evening when the shepherds would gather their flocks together for the night, they would carefully count each sheep and lamb. In this parable, the shepherd finds one missing. Instead of just shrugging his shoulders and saying that he would look for it when he goes out the next day, he goes out searching high and low in the wilderness, looking for that one, poor, possibly injured lamb. He does not give up until he finds the lost sheep. When he does, he doesn’t scold or berate the sheep for wandering off. Instead, he carefully carries him home, and then calls all of his friends to come and rejoice with him that the sheep is found.
Jesus is very clear in the meaning of this parable. Just as any shepherd seeks out the one lost sheep, so too does God actively seek the lost sinner, desiring that they would come to faith in Him and become part of His flock, His family. Just as the shepherd and his friends are rejoicing that the sheep was found, there is great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents and accepts Jesus.
The second parable is similar. A woman loses one of her silver coins and diligently searches the house, sweeping in every corner until it is found, and then rejoices with her friends (vs. 8-10). Again, Jesus repeats how in heaven the very angels are rejoicing before God’s throne over each time a sinner repents of his sins and turns to Jesus for salvation. Knowing this, wouldn’t it be more appropriate for the Pharisees to be glad that these sinful folk are coming to listen to God’s Word, and some coming to faith in Him, rather than being critical of their being around? The same goes for any self-righteous person today who scorns and murmurs when an “undesirable” person shows up at their church.
When we have something that we treasure, we keep track of where it is kept. If it goes missing we search high and low for it. We value our treasures as they are precious to us. God views us as His special treasure, something to be protected and loved. How could God rejoice over someone as unimportant as me or you? And yet Jesus says He does. We are not unimportant in His eyes. He will go beyond all reason to get us back because He loves us. God sacrificed His Son to purchase us, and He loves each one of us.
Sometimes even a believer might stray away from God, and lose his way in life. However, God loves us, and never gives up searching for us until we are found again. We are never tossed away or forgotten about, even when we might turn our backs on Him. When we have been backslidden and return to the Lord again, or the lost come to salvation, there is great rejoicing. It is never too late for the backslidden to return to Jesus, or the lost to repent and accept Him as Savior. Jesus is calling. He is waiting.
Do you believe that Jesus might be returning at any time? If you do, then are you searching for the lost? Are you fervently praying for the wandering? Are you sharing the love of Jesus with others, even if it means ridicule or anger from others? Jesus is diligently seeking the lost, and we need to help by bringing His message to others. Every soul matters to God, and their salvation glorifies Him and brings joy to the heavenly host of angels.
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