Are you lost? Are you found? And who determines the right answer?
Biblically we lost it all in Eden and had it restored at the cross. The “it” I’m referring to is us. Can you be found without being lost first? I know what lost is because once I found Christ I found me. Finding myself in relationship with God was and is an eye-opening experience, the likes of which I would wish on every one of you.
Being lost in this world is also being vulnerable to it. The world will see to it that you lose yourself to its entanglements, its temptations, its temporary pleasures known as whatever your weaknesses are – greed, ambition, pride, sex, drugs, power, guilt, shame. Pick your poison. If you don’t, then being lost allows your poison to pick you.
A funny thing happens when you make an honest effort to find yourself; much like the addict who must first admit the addiction, the effort is defined by an acknowledgement of being lost and in need of third-party help. In the Parable of the Lost Son that acknowledgement looks like this: “Father I have sinned against heaven and you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.” Luke 15:18-19.
His truth he could not deny. He was lost and in need of answers. Being lost, he found it in this plea to God. It enabled him to find himself, if not define himself, and ultimately make his way home. And you know what he found? He found a waiting father who had these enlightened words for the son who never left: “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:32.
When you finally get it, there’s only one place to and that’s home. In this case and every one I’m familiar with, home is where God is. The way was prepared by Christ who, like a homing beacon, shows us all how to find ourselves and thus be found. If you’ve ever been truly lost, you know the exhilaration you feel when you finally figure it out and get going in the right direction.
Recognize that being lost is not the issue. Having enough sense to know it and do something about it is. I promise you the moment you begin to look for the Lord, He will find you. He is right there at the depths of your despair just waiting for you to look at Him. It should redefine your life. That kind of lost will always be found.
