Lost           

           Last night I had that same dream. You’ve probably had a similar dream. I’m trying to get home, but regardless of what road I take I end up in the wrong place, usually at the end of a dead-end street. When I stop and ask for directions people seem happy to tell me where I should go, but when I follow their directions I still end up at the wrong place. All during the dream I keep thinking, “I used to know my way home. This shouldn’t be so difficult. Why do I keep getting lost?” Finally, when I reach the limit of my frustration I wake up; thankful it was only a dream. 

           Those who interpret dreams would tell me my dream reflects the frustration I feel as I try to make my way through the ever-changing conditions of my life. That makes sense. Ever since the onset of the coronavirus life had changed drastically. The roads that used to be so familiar no long lead to the same destination. The old ways are no longer acceptable and all these changes lead to worry and frustration. We used to know the way home, but what worked before doesn’t work anymore, and we find ourselves ending up on some dead-end street. We end up lost.

           If I could use one word to describe my dream it would be the word “lost.” When you’re trying to get home and keep ending up on dead-end streets, you are lost; and fewer conditions can be more frustrating or frightening than being lost.

           In the past, “lost” was a word we often used in church to talk about a person’s eternal destination. We tended to put people in two categories. Those who had accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord were saved. Those who had not yet accepted Christ were lost. If you were saved, you were headed to heaven; and if you were lost, you were going to hell.

           The word “lost” certainly has biblical roots. Jesus said he came to “seek and to save those who were lost.” In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables about those who are lost. He talks about the shepherd who searches for his lost sheep, a woman who rejoices over finding a lost coin, and a father who celebrates the return of a lost, prodigal son.

           Yes, lost is certainly a theme that runs through Scripture. But I think we fail to understand the full meaning of lost when we simply use it to label those who get to heaven and those who don’t. When Jesus saves the lost, he does more than insure their eternal destination. He gives them the direction they need to find their way in this life. He rescues them from constantly ending up on the dead-end streets of life.

           Given the ever-changing landscape of our society, many of us feel confused, uncertain and frustrated. The paths that used to take us home no longer work, and though we are Christians, we sometimes feel lost as we try to make sense of it all. Perhaps we need to seek direction from the same person who rescues lost sheep, lost coins, and lost sons. As far as I know, Jesus is still in the business of seeking and saving those of us who are lost – not just for eternity but for the life we live today.