Does God Really Love These Things? Part 2
Does God Love Lost People?
Sr. Pastor Taylor Free Methodist Church
Let’s begin by answering the question, “Does God love lost people?”
For God so loved the world that he gave one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16 -18
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
For, the Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19:10
He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16
A few weeks ago I said that people today are following something. What we follow is directly proportional to what we become in life and the eventual outcome of our life.
As Jesus called his disciples he said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17
Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so men are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them . Ecclesiastes 9:12
The truth of the matter is we get the impression sometimes that God is not interested in certain kinds of people. That is one of the reasons the Pharisees and teachers of the law had such a difficult time believing in Jesus. Turn with me to Luke chapter 15.
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. (Jesus) But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2
Here is a radical thought, could the religious leaders of that day be thinking, “How could this be the Son of God if he associates with these people that God cares nothing about?” The answer is yes. They really thought these people were lost and God does not care for those who are lost. Then he tells them three stories (parables) about lost things to drive home three points.
The first story is a familiar one to most Bible students. It is about the shepherd who had 100 sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it does he not rejoice?
The next story is about a woman who has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And after she finds it does she not rejoice?
The final story is about a man who had two sons. The younger of his sons asked for his inheritance, his share of the estate. His Father divided up the assets between his two boys. Not long after that the younger son got together all he had and went to distant country and squandered all he had in wild living. There was a severe famine in that country and the younger son finally found himself feeding pigs. He longed to fill his own growling stomach with what they were feeding the pigs. When he came to his senses he realized that his father’s servants were treated better than this. So he returned to his father saying, “I’ll tell my father, I have sinned father against heaven and against you. I am not worthy to be your son. Please make me one of your hired hands.” But when the Father saw him coming up the road he ran toward his son and hugged him. The father rejoiced and welcomed his son back with a huge feast.
Three Principles These Parables Have in Common
1. In each parable something of great value and importance was missing. None of us have seen the eyes of a person God does not love. Everyone is important to God!
2. The value of each lost thing was worth an all out search.
A. The sheep – left the 99 for the one
B. The coin – Swept the entire house
C. The Son – How often do you think the Father had looked up that road wishing his son would come home?
3. Finding whatever was lost always results in great rejoicing.
What About The Lost Sheep?
1. Sheep usually nibble their way lost.
a. Not like the coin, here one moment and lost the next. Some people wonder away from the faith.
b. Not like the son, where he announced his leaving and left. I doubt if many announce they are leaving they just slip away from the shepherd.
c. The lost sheep gradually distanced himself from the shepherd nibbling at greener grass. Many of us have gone for the greener grass just to find out it is artificial turf. It won’t satisfy!
2. The lost sheep looked up, he didn’t see the shepherd and he didn’t see the other sheep. He realized he was lost but he did not know how to get back to the shepherd.
3. It is important to go after a sheep that nibbled its way lost and bring him back to the flock. As shepherds (and we all are) the Bible teaches that we are to oversee our little flock.
What About The Lost Coin?
1. The lost coin did not realize it’s value. There are many lost people like that.
2. The lost coin did not realize it was lost. Most people who are lost do not understand the fatality of their lostness.
3. Unless we search for the lost coin it will be lost for eternity or until another finds it. The devil is like a roaring lion looking for lost things that haven’t a clue what to do and he devours them. Jesus died to save them but they must believe and we must tell them so that they have a chance to believe.
What About The Lost Son?
1. He chose not to stay with the Father. There are many that choose a wayward path.
2. The father would have probably been ineffective trying to convince the wayward son not to leave. The story doesn’t say but maybe this father like many fathers, tried to convince his son that he was making a mistake.
3. The Father did not go looking for the son for two reasons.
a. He did not nibble his way lost. He knew the way home.
b. He was not like the coin, he knew he was lost.
4. The father loved the son and hoped he would return. The story does not say but one thing many fathers will do when a wayward son travels a dangerous path is pray for them and for them to come to their senses.
Yes God loves lost people and so should we. There may be someone here today that after hearing these three parables about lost things, you realize that you are lost. Perhaps you have nibbled your way lost or maybe you never knew how lost you were until today. Or perhaps you just decided one day to walk away from Christ but today is the day of salvation, today is the day of celebration because that which was lost has been found. Is that you my friend? If so, why not just slip out of your seat right now and come up here and stand with me. It takes a real man or woman to make a bold move like this in a crowd like we have this morning but I am going to ask you to do it. If you realize you need to come to the Father this morning, come right now. Let’s sing as people are coming.
