When I think of someone who is ‘lost,’ I picture a child, alone in the woods who desperately needs to be shown the way out of the trees. My understanding of ‘lost people’ affected the way I read Jesus words in Luke 19, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost.” I thought about Jesus, trudging through the woods, gathering up the aimless, ignorant children who are doomed except for His mercy.
For years I read about the prodigal son who took “his share” of the Father’s resources and spent it all on self indulgence and thought, “Yes! These are the lost people Jesus is seeking to save!”
I was wrong about that.
The prodigal was not a child wandering aimlessly in the woods. He knew the way home. He despised the Father’s rules so (with the Father’s assistance) he removed himself from the family. As the saying goes, “Not all who wander are lost.” I would add that not all who are lost want to be found.
When I encountered the most vile, condescending, self-righteous fools, I felt compelled to tolerate their abuse in order to ‘rescue them.’ I understood these bitter hypocrites to be lost children in need of kindness and compassion. I excused their wickedness by assuring myself, “They just don’t know Jesus.”
The problem with thinking sinners are innocent children is that it creates a theology where people end up in Hell because of ignorance. It makes God into an unrighteous judge who condemns souls for what they DON’T know. Jesus said to have faith like a child but— what about all those lost children in the woods?
My theological dilemma was solved by scripture. Romans 1 told me, simply, THERE ARE NO LOST PEOPLE. Nobody is wandering in the woods, waiting to hear that God exists and cares for them. Every obnoxious, self-proclaimed ‘atheist’ is a prodigal. She knows the way home. She is choosing to squander her Father’s blessings instead.
(Luke 15:17) “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! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.”
2 Responses
“Came to his senses” seems to indicate he was senseless not using the senses God gave him
I think you are right. The expression “lost” comes the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14).. The emphasis in the parable is the joy of returning one who has gone astray.
Sheep are quite senseless, and like sheep we don’t give much thought to what is actually important. Instead of focusing on our Shepherd, we may wander off looking for greener grass, forgetting that our Shepherd will lead us to better places than we would ever find.