January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Those who are saved are charged with rescuing those who are lost
In the book of St. Luke, we are presented with a set of parables that Jesus used to explain Kingdom principles to the people. Here is one of them:
Luke15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
The rule found in St. Luke chapter 15 is quite simple. It speaks of the lost person's importance to the heart of God. Jesus speaks about the lost sheep, the lost piece of silver, and the lost son.
Jesus uses these common stories to arouse the interest of the reader and prayerfully prepare him to be a seeker of the lost.
It is the lost who stand in need of being found. Those who are already saved have no need of being 'found'; it is the ones outside the ark of safety, outside the plan and purpose of God that must be found. They are lost.
Like the lost sheep, they have wandered far away and stand in danger of being devoured by the wolves of sin.
The lost are like that precious piece of silver that the woman is sweeping in search of. She will sweep all day and all night, because of the value of the lost thing. The lost are like the prodigal son who wandered into strange places and got caught up in much mischief.
Yet, if this prodigal would return home, he will find that his father is right there, waiting for him.
The sinners are so precious to the heart of God. They are at risk of being eternally lost, and so the heart of God is to go get them, rescue them, and bring them back home.
There is no need to focus on the saints, because they are where they should be. No, the saved must go and rescue the sinner.
They must fulfil The Great Commission, and in so doing fulfil the prayer of Jesus Christ in St. John 17, that sinners be reconciled to The Father.
In St. Luke, the woman swept throughout her house. She knew that what she had lost was there somewhere and she was determined to find it. This must be the mindset and mandate of the heart of every Christian.
That is, you must aim to go and seek for the lost and bring them home into right relationship with God.
Here's a question: what if Christians began to evangelize the island of Bermuda as they certainly can? Wow!
There would be no need for peace treaties between gangs, or commissions on how to deal with the troubles that Bermuda faces, or laws implemented to stifle the wayward ways of the young and older people. No.
When a person finds his way back home to God, he also finds that he is better able to understand his purpose and that his purpose is a goodly and a godly one. This is how a nation can be changed. The mindset and heart must change, and then you will see the actions and reactions change.
Bermuda needs to make a change. Are you willing to do something differently? Should you build bigger prisons, or should you build people who will be better at praising God?
Should you become prisoners in your homes, or should you aim to become a part of the remnant, ready to set at liberty those who are made captive by their own choices?
Should you keep on talking and hoping for change, or should you pray, turn from your wicked ways, humble yourself, seek God, and watch God heal the land? The choice is yours? What will you do? Do you want to remain lost, or will you find God? Respice finem.
Dr. Maria A. Seaman is the Pastor of Shekinah Worship Centre, currently worshipping at The Victor Scott Primary School.[[In-content Ad]]
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