Lost

Jesus told a series of parables in Luke 15 in response to criticism from the Scribes and Pharisees. They noted that He was fraternizing with tax collectors (publicans, KJV) and sinners. The three parables are about a lost sheep, a lost shekel, and a lost son. All three of these had one thing in common and one thing that differentiated each one from the other.

They were all lost. You may have discerned that without help. I had not thought about their lostness before. The different aspect of their conditions is the path that led to being lost. The sheep had gotten lost out of innocence or ignorance. It did not know that there were places and things out there that were dangerous. The sheep simply wandered off, probably following a little trail of grass. It did not intend to get lost, it just happened as it innocently strayed away from the shepherd.

The coin, on the other hand, was a completely passive object. It became lost due to the carelessness of the owner or simply fell from its normal location due to some outside influence. Possibly the shekel was simply moved for some reason, and the “put away place” was forgotten. Have you ever put something somewhere, thinking that you would remember where it was when you needed it? Then when the need arose you could not, for the life of you, remember where you had put it. I often recall that I have a tool or a part and vividly recall putting it where I would remember it, but not being able to find the resting place.

The lost son, on the other hand, knew exactly what he was doing and deliberately, decisively, and determinedly left home. He knew exactly where he was and why he was there.

But the point of Jesus’ telling of these stories was not that the three had been lost, but that they had been found. The lost sheep was incapable of returning to safety. It is quite possible that it had become trapped somewhere and was facing death if not rescued.

The shekel had no cognition and was not involved in anything. It just “sat” where ever it had been placed or had fallen. In contrast to those, the lost son had intentionally left, and knew exactly where he was, even if the father, the seeker, did not know.

But the best comparison is that all three were found. The shepherd actively searched until he discovered and recovered his lost sheep. The woman diligently went through the house eliminating every possible “hiding” place until the lost was discovered.

The father was diligently seeking the return of the lost, but at the same time was respecting the son’s sovereignty. It was a volitional decision to leave, and a volitional decision was required to become “found.” (Verse 32)

The sheep undoubtedly learned a life changing lesson, and we can surmise that it never wandered off again. Hopefully the woman learned to “put everything in its place” instead of merely stashing things in a convenient location. Finally, we can affirm that the son never strayed either. If he was a sharp as a sheep, he not only stayed out of trouble, but was an ambassador to others who were on the verge of straying. Hopefully, he was able to influence his older brother over time.

But the point of the story is not in the individual narratives. The overall thrust of Jesus’ presentation is that all three were found. The “lost” did not recover themselves. Even the lost son, though he had a change of heart, depended upon the father’s seeking heart for recovery. Look at verse 20: “ But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him....” Can you put yourself in the lost shoes of this boy? The father “... felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

A question that often arises is whether a Christian can “lose” his salvation. Even a straying son will be sought by the loving Father and brought back to the place of safety, security, and service. This trio of parables combines to reassure that, if lost for any reason, we will be found. In fact, 1 John 2:19 explains the difference between a true believer and one who has never been a “son.” In expanding the warning in verse 15, John explains:
They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

The “they” are people who love the world.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

These pseudo-sheep pretend to be part of the family, but their true love becomes evident by their actions. Their “going out” is not part of the triple analysis for being lost that Jesus was explaining. If the older brother refused to reconcile with the prodigal, he was demonstrating that,  although he was a biological child, he was merely residing in the home and not a true son.

Jesus warned about that in Matthew 7:23. To those who pretended to be part of the family, He declared, “I never knew you.” We are not Christians because of a biological event. In the same line of thought, a true “son” has decided to follow the Lord. Once part of that household, we become subject to the “Seeker’s” will. And the best news of all is in 2 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not willing that any should perish.

Jesus said in John 6:39
This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.
What an assurance. What a confidence we enjoy. We are secure based on God’s will and Jesus ability.

That applies to those who have not yet believed and those who have. Once we are part of the family, we have the confidence that we can never be removed. In Paul’s time and even today, a child that was adopted into a family could never be disowned or disinherited. That is why Paul used the term adoption for our inclusion into God’s family. (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5)

The lost sheep, the lost shekel, and the lost son were found. The comparison is to the critics who refused the offer that Jesus made. They neither “ate with” Publicans and sinners, nor the seeking Savior. In contrast, this is the reassuring picture of what awaits believers who have been adopted into God’s family.

I am found! Praise God!