Do Lost People Matter To You?

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Luke 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

The three parables in chapter 15 in Luke have one thing in common. They each represent God as caring for lost people because they matter to him.  When someone repents and turns to God for forgiveness, God is more than willing to take them back in.  Luke uses the example of a farmer who has lost a sheep. A woman who has lost a coin. And finally a man who lost his youngest son.  In the first two instances the person who has lost something goes and makes an all out search until they found what is lost.  In the last example the father waits for patiently for his lost son, scanning the horizon hoping he will see his son return.  A pastor of the church I used to go to said, "Lost people matter to God and therefore they should matter to us."

But do they?  Are we as passionate about reaching out to lost people as God is? What would that look like? Do we regularly pray for people who are lost?  Do we look for ways to build relationships with lost people?  Do we give up on people easily as a "lost cause"? Would we rather hang out with saints than sinners?  

My sense is that it is easier for us to spend time with "found" people, than "lost" people.  If someone believes in presdestination they might be tempted to think it doesn't matter because God is going to save who He wants to.  Or, we might be afraid we are coming off as a "religious fanatic".  Being religious is different than caring about lost people.  When you genuinely care for someone far from God it will come across as authentic.  If you are looking to convert someone for bragging rights that will come across as well.

One thing we know from this passage is there is a great celebration in heaven when a lost person repents and turns to God.  All of heaven breaks out into a big party.  The father who welcomes home his prodigal son is so full of joy he throws a huge welcome home party.  Do we celebrate when lost people are found?  Are the baptisms of new adult believers filled with celebration and joy that the lost have become found?  

If lost people don't matter to you, pray that God will give you a heart for what He cares about most. People who are made in His image and He loved so much He sent His only Son to die on the cross so that they might be saved.