Are you hard on you? I can be pretty hard on me!
Jesus’ whole purpose in coming was “to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10. I had always thought that this word just meant lost to an eternal damnation in hell; lost to oneness with God. And that it does! But this word is much more encompassing and I am just now beginning to grasp the scope of “lostness” each one of us can continue to walk in even after receiving Christ as Lord of our lives.
We may have “found” our eternity in heaven—yes! But God desires that we prosper in our souls while remaining here, living our life on earth.
We can remain lost in so many areas leaving us barren or bearing little fruit.
Without Him, all is lost!
Our purpose—do you know your purpose? Do you know why you were specifically created “you” for this time and for this place? How did God create you uniquely and what does He want you to do with that which He’s placed within your being?
Our identity—do you know your identity? Do you realize the Covenant relationship you are in and with whom? Do you know where you reign in Christ? Do you grasp, even slightly, who you are in Christ Jesus?
Our freedom—do you walk free or bound? Do you try and try and try and fail and fail and fail over certain areas--struggles--in your life? Do you consistently memorize scripture and cry out for relief over specific sins, weaknesses and/or temptations but feel little to no relief?
Our opportunities—do you look at all that you can’t do and can’t be and can’t have in this world? Do you see all that you can do and can be and can have? The very power of God that raised Lazarus from the dead is available to all believers who believe—do you believe that?
Our joy—do you have pure, unspeakable and full of glory “joy”? Do you battle with depression, melancholy, despair or negativity? Do you have deep down, not-effected-by-circumstance rejoicing in your heart?
Our hope—do you live hopeful? Or do you dread the future? Do you get worked up over the things of this world to the point that you feel hopeless? Do you feel little to no hope in your home, in your relationships, in any area of your life?
Our relationships—how are those relationships in your life? Strained or satisfying? Fruitful or fruitless? Joyful or sorrowful? Treasured or tedious? Is forgiveness evident or not at all?
Our mission—do you live with the expectation that God does and will work and transform through you by His great power?
Jesus restores all these areas of “lostness” to us! Jesus’ very purpose while on earth was seeking, saving, healing and restoring. All of which are available to us today!
The evil one, on the other hand, “comes only to steal, kill and destroy” John 10:10. He feeds us lies to steal away our identity and purpose. This kills our trust, therefore robbing us of our joy and hope. This destroys our relationships and ultimately our mission.
Christ is the restorer; Satan the destroyer!
“Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
Now, back to being hard on ourselves. Satan loves this! We help his cause when we beat ourselves up over our shortcomings and sins. If we focus on ourselves, we won’t notice him in the process and we are most definitely not focusing on God. This pleases him. Something I detest!
The key to restoration is repentance. It’s not a nasty word. It is freeing!
We cry out to God and ask Him to come alongside us in our lostness. We wait expectantly upon Him and His timing. He shines His bright light on the situation. We then respond. Our choice lies in how we respond. If we respond in humility, brokenness and repentance we are made whole and free—no longer lost!
Therein lies the key to salvation from lostness—humility, brokenness, and repentance!
We are then more fully restored. We go from lost to found; darkness to light.
“As for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.” Micah 7:7-8
The ramifications through salvation in Christ are huge for the price paid at Calvary to eradicate lostness was enormous!
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