Luke 19:10
There I sat in the parking lot of a sporting goods store ready to satisfy my desire to add to my collection of tools. I knew what I wanted, how much it cost and was convinced of the value this new addition would add to my life. Before leaving my vehicle, I felt for my wallet, as I usually do, only to realize that it was not where I thought it would be. Then after searching under each seat and in between each corner I was hit with the fact that I had lost my wallet which had my identification and payment cards in it. My mind began to race back and forth in an effort to remember where I had left it. After calling my co-worker who I had spent the day with and asking him if he’d seen it I recalled the last place I used it; at a restaurant where I had eaten lunch earlier that day. Instead of feelings of excitement at the thought of making my desired purchase I experienced feelings of anxiety (where could it be? Did it fall into the wrong hands?) and even some embarrassment (how could I lose my wallet of all things?). I decided to call the restaurant I had eaten at earlier and to my surprise, someone had found my missing wallet and turned it into the store’s manager who was holding it for me to reclaim. I was so relieved and excited that upon receiving my wallet from the manager I turned to the guests in the lobby and shared my experience which ended with “remember that there is more good in the world than there is evil.” In Luke chapter nineteen and verse ten Jesus describes the mission statement of the Godhead: “… to seek and save the lost.”
After Adam and Eve chose to be separated from God in the garden of Eden we are told that God sought after them in an effort to restore them back to Himself. In Genesis three and verse nine it says: “Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” Sin affected Adam and Eve understanding of themselves (remember they covered themselves with fig leaves after being comfortably naked before each other Gen. 3:7) and of God (they hid from God after they heard His voice in the garden Gen 3:8). Sin continues to have the same affect on us today. It doesn’t just influence our behaviour, it influences our beliefs and what we believe has power over us. When I refer to sin, I want us to think of it deeper than just violating the ten commandments. Instead, think of it as an illness or disease that we have all been infected with. This disease has caused us to social distance from the One who we need the most. Isaiah fifty-nine and verse two says: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you…” It’s not that God hides from us but sin (the terminal disease we were born with) deceives us into justifying hiding from Him; resisting His presence.
We Are All Lost (infected)
Romans three verse twenty-three says: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and chapter five verse nineteen echoes this with: “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners”. The interesting thing about recognizing that we each are sick (lost) is that it helps us to see our constant need for God. Notice that Adam and Eve were sick while in the garden of Eden. Just because we attend church, serve in ministries and participate in missions doesn’t mean that we are no longer in need of the healing power of Jesus. In addition, there are layers to our lost condition. We can be healed in some areas while still being sick in others. The work of salvation (healing) is the work of a lifetime and understanding our true condition should help us to trust in the healing power of God.
The Godhead Wants to Heal Us All
In second Peter chapter three and verse nine the apostle wrote that God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” This helps us to understand that there is a universal effort to restore the creation back to Himself (His methods, His person and His company) which is not excluded to a certain race, nation or class of people. The prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter fifty-five and verse one: “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat.” Notice that the invitation is extended to everyone. Some may think that they are too sick to be healed and others may think that they are too healed to be sick but the truth is we each stand in need of the healing work that the Godhead is seeking to do in our hearts. Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Father in heaven, please help us to see how you are working to restore us to Yourself and make us whole. And please help us to trust You with our whole hearts. Amen.