Priority #3: Love The Lost Series

“PRIORITY #3: LOVE THE LOST” John 3:16

FBCF – 1/25/26

Jon Daniels

INTRO – The Incredible Journey (pic) – children’s book written by Sheila Burnford – 1961 – 3 pets, Labrador, bull terrier, & a Siamese cat – travel 300 miles through Canadian wilderness to find their owners. 1993 – Adapted into Disney movie that my kids loved, “Homeward Bound.”

Back to the book. Years ago, a copy of the book was checked out of a CA library & then returned to that library. Only one problem – it was due back on May 20, 1980 (pic). When it was returned, it was overdue by 46 yrs! It’s a good thing that the library no longer charges fines for overdue books b/c whoever had it would probably have had to sell a kidney to pay the fine! I think we can safely say – in the mind of some librarian in CA, that book was lost, but now it’s found. Reminds us of “Amazing Grace” – “…I once was lost, but now am found”

There are 8.3 billion people in the world, & all of us are on an incredible journey right now – this journey called LIFE. And all of us are headed toward a destination, a place where we will spend eternity. In a sense, we are all headed to our eternal home. For some, that eternal home is heaven. Not everyone is going to end up in that home. Some people believe & teach that all roads lead to heaven & all you have to do is pick the one you want to be one – the one that fits you the best – the one that FEELS right to you – the one you like the best – the one that is the easiest. Jesus had something to say about that belief. Matthew 7:13 – “…the gate to hell is wide & the road that leads to it is easy, & there are many who travel it.” (GNT)

The sad reality is that over 4.5 billion people in the world are on that easy road. And the destination that their journey will take them to, the eternal home that they are rapidly moving toward is a very real place called hell. That place will be their eternal home unless someone loves them enough to go to them & tell them the Good News of John 3:16.

Today, conclude series “3 Priorities for the New Year (& every year for the rest of your life)”. Priority #1: Love God – Priority #2: Love the Church – Priority #3: Love the Lost

EXPLANATION – John 3:16

You & I as Christ-followers need to believe & breathe John 3:16. We as a Church need to be positioned on & proclaim John 3:16. Our lives need to be saturated with & sold out to John 3:16. 4 points to ponder about John 3:16:

God’s merciful love is shown to everyone – “For God so loved the WORLD…” – He loves the saved & the lost, the Christians & non-Christians. He loves YOU regardless of skin color, socioeconomic status, lifestyle choices, whether you love Trump or hate Trump. He loves you regardless of mistakes you’ve made & sins you’ve committed. He loves you if this is your first time to set foot inside a church building or if you’ve got perfect attendance for the last 50 yrs. He loves you if you were drunk last night or if you’re a teetotaler who never touches the stuff. He loves you if your family really is as wonderful as it looks on your social media page or if you’re faking it b/c your life & family are a trainwreck. He loves you if you believe the Bible & strive to live by its teachings or if you reject the Bible & live any way you want to live. HE LOVES YOU, no matter who you are, what you’ve done, or how you’re living. And b/c of His merciful love toward you, He wants to totally transform your life.

God’s magnificent gift is given for everyone – “…that He gave His only-begotten Son…” – No matter how good you, how moral you are, how law-abiding you are, you cannot save yourself. You are a sinner who needs a Savior, & Jesus is that Savior – the ONLY Savior! And God gave Him to you & for you so that you can be saved. John 14:6 – “…the way, the truth, & the life…”

God’s massive offer is made to everyone – “…that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish…” – Love the word “whosoever” b/c that includes everyone. Doesn’t mean everyone is going to be saved. But does mean that He offers everyone that opportunity – the opportunity not to “perish” – to die spiritually & go to hell.