Luke 19:10 - Lost

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

Luke 19:10

What does it mean to be lost? 

There is so much darkness in the world, and it's easy to forget that all unbelieving people are on their way to hell. 

I don't like to think about hell. 

But... the truth is that hell is real. It's not an abstract place disconnected from our experience. 

It exists. 

It is horrible.

No one, fully understanding what hell is, would want to take the path that leads there, yet many people do choose it because they are lost.

The definition of lost is:

 unable to find one's way; not knowing one's whereabouts

This perfectly describes those who do not know the truth. For all, life begins and we all sin and are sinned against. We're all both the wounded and the wounders. We believe the lie, whatever it is to each one of us.

We're miserable without knowing the truth.

Poor, wretched, blind.

The scary part about it is, in that state, we don't even realize the true source of our problems - being disconnected from all that is light, life, and love.

Jesus came to save each one of us from that state of being lost. Through his sacrifice, we can be made right with God and come to find our way in Him.

The idea of someone being on the road to hell just isn't fashionable and feels judgmental. It's not an easy truth, and for me, the idea of uttering the simple statement: "You're going to hell," just seems so rude and uncomfortable.

But am I actually being compassionate if I see someone bent on destruction and don't try to show them how to avoid it?

My sensitivity to the reality of hell has been dulled with time. It's hard to think about people who I worry may be there, to fight back my all-too-active imagination to construct what they must be experiencing.

Tonight, I was freshly reminded of hell's reality - the fact that it is dark, it is terrifying, and that people are going there. While researching for this blog post, I came across some YouTube videos about near death experiences where people experienced hell. I know some are skeptical about NDE accounts, but I believe that some are valid. I went through such a range of emotions in just watching a few of these videos.

No, I don't need to dwell on the details.

No, I don't have to fear going there.

But it's my job to believe - and act - as though hell is a real place.