Find the Way: Our Purpose
The Tourist Lost Next Door
A young Filipino, traveling in Chicago, registered at the Hotel Sherman. Taking a walk, he became lost. He was ignorant of the name, location, and appearance of the hotel, and so was unable to find it again. Consequently, he selected another room in the Hotel Astor. Unwilling to acknowledge to the authorities that he was lost, he tried for five days to find the place where he had deposited his baggage.
Unsuccessful, he finally appealed to the authorities. The police soon found his original registration place, and informed him that for five days he had been living next door to the place where he had left his baggage.
—Tom Olson
Today we are continuing our discussion on the core values and purpose of Meridian Christian Church. We use a phrase, and you have probably noticed it, that when you scrape off the paint, get past the brochures and stop the music – which is the very heartbeat of Meridian Christian Church. At the core of our being we are focused on one thing – Helping People Find The Way Home. This is not a slogan. This is not bumper sticker material. This is best way that I know to describe the focus of Meridian Christian Church.
Last week we spoke of the method – Helping People. Today we look at out purpose – We help people FIND THE WAY. Now this implies something very important. It is a critical part of our world view.
Finding the way implies something – that they are lost. But Lost People… often don’t know it or won’t admit it. Let me state is as simply and succinctly as possible: People without Jesus are lost. Our purpose is to help people find the way home by introducing them to the one who is the way home – and that is the only begotten, unique, monogenes, one of a kind, son of God.
This idea is the critical key to understanding the Christian World View. It colors everything we do. It defines us. This is our purpose. It is so important that Jesus was recorded by Luke 15 teaching about the importance of finding and rescuing lost people.
In fact Jesus taught the importance by telling three stories – parables – one right after the other. The first is about the one lost sheep.
Lost Sheep – Lost People are Important
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not 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.
Luke 15:4-7
Throughout the Bible, God’s people are compared to sheep; and the comparison is a good one. Sheep are clean animals, unlike pigs and dogs (2 Peter 2:20–22). They are defenseless and need the care of the shepherd (Ps. 23). They are, to use Wesley’s phrase, “prone to wander,” and must often be searched for and brought back to the fold (Luke 15:3–7). Sheep are peaceful animals, useful to the shepherd. In these, and other ways, they picture those who have trusted Jesus Christ and are a part of God’s flock.
The moral of this story is very clear. We don’t have to get all complicated. It is really very simple. Each and every person in this world is important to God – even the one that is way lost and even if you are the only one that is lost.
You cannot get so far from God that he will not love you.
Lost people are important to God and must be important to us.
The second story is about a lost coin.
Lost Coin – Lost People are Valuable
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:8-10
The ten silver coins are most likely the woman’s ketubah, or dowry—the only money she brings into the marriage that is technically hers even if the marriage is dissolved. That she has only ten coins (each coin was worth about one day’s wage - @ $5.85 for 8 hours work = $46.80) suggests that her father’s family is not well-to-do; she would presumably have married into a household equally poor. But look at it this way – if you lost fifty dollars would you search for it high and low until you found it!?!? I would!!!
The lamp here is a small, hand-held oil lamp, which emits little light but is more helpful than the small (if any) window that may be in her wall. The rough stone floors of poor homes had many crevices between the stones, into which coins and fragments of pottery fell so often that archaeologists can now use coins in those crevices to date when people lived in these homes. By sweeping with a broom she might hope to hear the coin rattle against the floor.
The moral is again very clear: people are valuable. They are worth the time and effort to find them when they are lost.
But there is one last story… You have probably heard it… many times before… This story is not about sheep or a coin. It is the story of the lost son.
Lost Son – Lost People are Forgiven
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:11-31
To ask one’s father for one’s share of the inheritance early was unheard of in antiquity; in effect, one would thereby say, “Father, I wish you were already dead.” Such a statement would not go over well even today, and in a society stressing obedience to one’s father it would be a serious act of rebellion (Deut 21:18–21) for which the father could have beaten him or worse.
That the father grants the request means that most of the hearers will not identify with the father in this parable; from the start, they would think of him as stupidly lax to pamper such an immoral son.
The eldest son always received a double portion (Deut 21:17); in this case, he would have received two-thirds of the inheritance and the younger brother one-third.
Jewish law did permit a father to determine which assets (especially land) would go to which sons before he died, but they could take possession only on the father’s death: the father was manager and received the land’s profits until then. Thus this son could know what would be his but could not legally sell his assets; he does it anyway.
He spends it all in a few short months and is left with nothing. His friends gone he works for a farmer feeding pigs and is so hungry that he longs to eat their food. At last he goes home hoping only for a place to work and sleep.
His father looks everyday hoping that his lost son will come home when he finally seems him far off. He is accepted completely…
Father More Anxious To Find Boy
One Sunday night D. L. Moody preached in a big circus tent near the Columbian Exposition in Chicago from the text, “The Son of man is come to seek and to save the lost.” After he had finished, a little boy was brought to the platform by an officer who had found the child wandering in the crowd, lost. Mr. Moody took him in his arms and asked the crowd to look at the lost child.
Mr. Moody said, “The father is more anxious to find the boy than the boy is to be found. It is just so with our Heavenly Father, for long years He has been following you, oh, sinner. He is following you still!”
At that very moment a man with a pale and anxious face elbowed his way to the platform. When the boy saw him he broke free from the preacher and ran as fast he could to the edge of the stage where he launched himself into space , threw himself into his father’s outstretched arms. The multitude that witnessed the scene, broke into a mighty cheer. “Thus,” cried Mr. Moody, “will God receive you if you will only run to Him today.”
—King’s Business
Whatever is lost can be found!
So what’s the problem?
The History Channel aired a presentation called “The Man Who Predicted 911.” It was the story of one man by the name of Rick Rescorla. Long before September 11th, Rick Rescorla, the 62-year-old head of security at the Morgan Stanley Bank, developed an evacuation plan for the bank’s offices which were high up in the South Tower at the World Trade Center.
Rescorla was convinced that Osama Bin Laden would use jet planes to try and destroy the World Trade Center. The plan and its preparation were hugely unpopular with the Morgan Stanley staff, many of whom thought Rescorla was crazy.
On September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 hit World Trade Center Tower 1 at 8:46 am. Rick Rescorla ignored building officials advice to stay put and began the orderly evacuation of Morgan Stanley’s 2,800 employees on 20 floors of World Trade Center Tower 2, and 1,000 employees in WTC 5.
Rescorla reminded everyone to "be proud to be an American ... everyone will be talking about you tomorrow", and sang God Bless America and other songs over his bullhorn to help evacuees stay calm as they left the building. Rescorla had most of Morgan Stanley’s 2800 employees as well as people working on other floors of WTC 2 safely out of the buildings by the time United Airlines Flight 175 hit WTC 2 at 9:07 a.m.
After having reached safety, Rescorla returned to the building to rescue others still inside. He was last seen heading up the stairs of the tenth floor of the collapsing WTC 2. His remains were not recovered. As a result of Rescorla’s actions, only 6 of Morgan Stanley’s 2800 WTC employees were killed on September 11th, 2001, including Rick and three of his deputies who followed him back into the building.
The remainder of this very moving broadcast focused on Morgan Stanley Bank employees who now in tears were praising and acknowledging Rick Rescorla for saving their lives from total destruction that day. Many felt so guilty and apologetic they had thought Rick foolish to keep preaching and standing for what he believed would happen if they were not ready. Those interviewed said they would never forget Rick Rescorla. He was their hero.
James 5:19-20 says, My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
As sinners saved by grace, we must have a Rick Rescorla Attitude. He was convinced people entrusted to his care would perish if his plan of escape were ignored. Rick Rescorla stayed the course even when unpopular and ridiculed because he believed what he was doing would save lives.
Sadly, many Christians today have a “Cain Attitude” when it comes to rescuing the perishing and having a consistent witness. Unlike Rick Rescorla, they say by their actions: “I am not my brother’s keeper. How this must grieve the heart of Almighty God who has left us here as His Beloved Children to share the Good News of Jesus Christ so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
Christians must not respond like the young man applying for a position as an usher in a movie theater when asked what he would do if there was a fire. He responded to the job interviewer,
Don’t worry I would be able to get out of the theater. Many Christians feel this way about the lost people around them whom are about to perish in the eternal fires of hell without those who know the way to safety to point the way.
Remember the Good Shepherd left the ninety-nine sheep and went after the one that was lost. Today ask yourself, Am I passing the buck or the baton when it comes to affirming others in word, deed and witness?
Why deny someone the very news that saved your soul and led you to safety in Jesus? Christians must not remain in their inner circle. They must replace the “Cain Attitude” so prevalent today with a “Rick Rescorla” and reach out with the Good News of Jesus Christ to save those who will otherwise perish in the fire.
