In the year 2020, it is hard to imagine life without a cell phone. Some of us “senior saints” remember when mobile phones did not exist except in the world of George Jetsen. When George would call his wife, she would pop up on a screen, and we thought that was cute for the kids to see, but it was never going to be a reality. Never say never. The year 2020 has most of us familiar with Facetime, Zoom meetings, and Marco Polo.
A few days ago, my husband Gaylon lost his cell phone. He had driven my car to run an errand and as he braked, the phone fell between the seat and the console. Gaylon spent quite a while looking for it. I did not know what was transpiring, so I went to the garage to check on him. To his dismay, and soon to mine, the cell phone was nowhere to be found. We checked every inch around the seats, under the seats, and in the console. Gaylon activated his phone finder and it was evident the phone was in the car. I even peeled back skin on my hand looking for that valuable phone.
Alas, I had an idea! Let me call your phone and it will light up in the car and you will know where it is. It worked! He had never dropped the phone. It was over the visor exactly where he had put it! Oh boy! Nevertheless, our priority was to find the valuable thing that was lost and return it to its owner.
Many of us have feverishly and relentlessly looked for something of value that was lost. What would happen if we had the same attitude towards lost souls? If we are going to have the heart of God, we must put true effort into finding the lost. They are valuable to God, and they must become valuable to us. How does God feel about lost souls? Jesus told us exactly how God feels.
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:4-7.
On many occasions I have been asked to share my testimony. As a child I was put through all kinds of abuse, lived in abject poverty, and was deeply lost emotionally. That was tragic. Even more tragic was that I was lost and facing an eternity in hell without God. I was certainly not popular, did not wear nice clothes, and was not included in many fun things with other kids. BUT GOD was seeking me, looking for the girl that He had created.
Miss Poulos, as we fondly called her, found me and many others. She picked us up. Took us to church. Taught us in Sunday school, and led us to Jesus Christ. Others saw me as just another “snotty-nosed” kid from a dysfunctional home. Miss Poulos saw me as valuable in God’s sight and put a lot of effort into finding this lost sheep.
Today, I am still a child of God, serving in full-time ministry, and teaching others about the grace of God. I have raised three sons. One of them awaits me in heaven, and the other two have families that are serving God. Sometimes I tear up thinking of the difference in their lives because of the difference in my life. It was all because Miss Poulos sought that which was lost.
We, too, were once lost in sin before the Lord found us and saved us through the ministry of others – whether through our parents, through a friend, by attending church, or any other means. Sometimes we see unbelievers as the enemy. God sees them as valuable. They are not the enemy but are under the influence of THE enemy.
The year 2021 will soon be here and we tend to set all kinds of goals. Why not set a goal to win the lost? I plan to set a goal to win at least one person per month to Jesus. Can you set a goal to win six, four, or even two? I am already praying for God to help me pinpoint those who are lost and help me to bring them to Him.
We must become imitators of God. Thank God for Bible studies! I teach them. Thank God for prayer meetings! I am involved in several. Thank God for good worship! I love it. I want to imitate God by having a heart that seeks the lost. I want to seek them like Gaylon and I sought a cell phone that seemed valuable.
I love the way Pastor Greg Laurie expressed his thoughts:
Jesus said, “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest” (John 4:35 NLT).
Do not just think of the world. Think of your world. Lift up your eyes in your family. There are people ready to come to Jesus. Lift up your eyes in your neighborhood. There are people ready to come to Jesus. Lift up your eyes in your community. There are people ready to come to Jesus.