Lost and Found
If you had to summarize Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth in one sentence, what would you say? Thankfully we don’t have to have to play a guessing game; Jesus told us what the heart of his mission was:
“For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost.” – Luke19:10
Typically we are told that if we want to find salvation then we had better seek it. If we want to find God, they say, then we’d better start searching. There is some truth in that. But here is the Good News: before any seeking on your part, Jesus was seeking you. He takes the initiative before we do. He puts in the effort to find us while we are still hopelessly lost. Jesus is in hot pursuit – he is the hound of heaven, pursuing us with his divine grace even while we’re often running from him. He’s relentless in searching for you.
Heart-wrenching!
Earlier on in Luke 19 we are given some more insight into Jesus’ mission. Jesus is passing through Jericho and he spots a wealthy tax collector (Zacchaeus) perched high up in a tree to get a better view of Jesus. The picture of Zacchaeus climbing the tree is a remarkable illustration of the default setting of our hearts in relation to God: we try to ascend to a better outlook of the divine by our own efforts. We try to work our way to God, in an attempt to earn intimacy with him. In one way or another we are all tree-climbers.
How does Jesus respond? “Come down right now”, he tells Zacchaeus, “I must stay at your house today!” There is something of an excited urgency in Jesus’ “must”. Jesus, looking up at Zacchaeus in the tree, is saying to Him; “Stop your self-driven spiritual exertion- you can’t earn me. I have come to seek you out, and to save you. All you need to do is come down from your tree of earning and depend on me – I’m the one who saves. Let me into your home.”
Zacchaeus responds in repentance and Jesus declares that salvation has come to his household, “For the Son of man came to seek and save the lost.” (Luke19:10).
While there are so many other things to enjoy and appreciate at Easter time, this must once again become the fundamental aspect of our remembrance and thanksgiving. There is no more incredible truth than that of Christ’s seeking and saving us – those who were lost but now are found. This is the heart of the Gospel message, and we are convinced that it must always remain at the heart of Rosebank Union Church. Jesus is seeking after each of his own, he is calling us to follow him.
What does this mean for you? Here are some basic diagnostic questions to help you check your spiritual health this Easter:
- In what areas of your life are you a “tree-climber”, trying to work your way to God?
- When was the last time you admitted to God that you’ve lost your way spiritually (once again!) and that you’re in need of his loving assistance? Have you ever truly repented of your spiritual ‘lostness’?
- Would you describe Jesus as having come in to your house, like he did with Zacchaeus?
- How thankful are you for what Jesus has done for you? Has your gratitude waned recently?
- How can you join Jesus in his mission of seeking and saving the lost? Who could you invite to church this Easter?
