A small boy went with his father to a busy market. His father stopped to speak to friend and the boy looked all around, fascinated by the sights and sounds. Then he moved away to explore by himself; he wandered, unconcerned amongst the stalls. After a while, he began to wonder where his father was. He looked everywhere and tried to find his own way back. At last, he began to cry and sob — “I’m lost!” A kind stall-holder saw him and in a few minutes, carried him back to the arms of his father again.
Did you ever realise that people are lost spiritually. They are away from God, estranged from Him because of sin. Their lives are aimless, lacking direction or purpose. Isaiah says “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way but the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all,” 53.6. So everyone has the same straying nature and every individual has turned to his own, self-chosen path, away from God.
Many are lost but do not know it, just like the boy when he first wandered off. Some are careless, but lost; some are religious, but lost; some are baptised, but lost; some ‘take communion’ but are lost. Have you ever discovered your real spiritual condition before God? Have you ever realised the eternal destiny to which you are going? In other words have you ever found out that you are lost? Just as the lost boy was in danger, so you too are in danger of perishing and being lost for all eternity. So many think that hell is where only murderers or robbers go to; however it is enough to continue as a lost, careless sinner and you will find yourself in that dreadful place. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all … that forget God,” Psalm 9.17.
Some have an idea that they are not right with God and try to do something about it. They decide to ‘turn over a new leaf,’ give up bad habits or join a church organisation, — all in an effort to find their own way back to God. But all this is of no value to a lost sinner; and how could anyone be sure that he had done enough to be acceptable to God? Instead Paul reminds us — “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us,” Titus 3.5.
But the gospel is God’s good news to mankind. All who are lost because of sin
and in danger of its awful consequences, can be saved and sure about it. When
the birth of the Lord Jesus was announced, the Lord said to Joseph “call His
name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins,” Matthew 1.21. As a
lost sinner, you do not need a reformer or a good example; you need a Saviour,
one strong enough to save you from your sins.
The Lord Jesus explained in simple words the real reason why he came into the
world — “ For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost,”
Luke 19.10. By His sacrificial death at Calvary He provided the only way by
which lost sinners can be saved; everything He did at the cross satisfied God
entirely. God has raised Him from the dead and “exalted Him with His right hand
to be a Prince and a Saviour,” Acts 5.31. It is also certain that He is the only
Saviour — “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” Acts 4.12.
Maybe you do know that you are lost, cannot save yourself and would like to be
sure that you are saved. One night many years ago, in a jail at Philippi, a poor
lost sinner called out the urgent question “What must I do to be saved?” The
speedy, united response of two gospel preachers was “Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and thou shalt be saved,” Acts 16.31. The way of salvation is still the
same today. May I ask you in view of eternity “Are you lost or saved, which?”