What does it mean to be spiritually lost?

Answer

One line in the well-known hymn “Amazing Grace” reads, “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” We may have sung it numerous times without fully grasping the meaning of being lost. The term lost is commonly used in the Bible and Christian circles to describe individuals who have not yet discovered eternal life in Christ. Jesus stated, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” «For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. », (Luke 19:10). Those who are spiritually lost are distant from God and incapable of finding their way back to Him.

Being lost means having strayed and being unable to find the way back. A hiker might find himself lost after taking a wrong path and being unsure of how to return to the correct one. A child could be lost if he strays too far from his parents and loses track of their whereabouts. Humans are spiritually lost because we have drifted away from God and lack the knowledge of how to rediscover Him.

Isaiah 53:6 declares, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The Bible likens humans to sheep (Psalm 23;John 10:11-14) because sheep are inherently vulnerable. They are not particularly intelligent and tend to follow a leader, regardless of the direction. Sheep rely on a shepherd for protection, guidance to good pastures, and vigilance to prevent any from getting lost. Sheep often stray from the flock and become easy prey for predators. Spiritually, people are inclined to wander and become vulnerable to our adversary, Satan. Without Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we are spiritually lost and incapable of finding God independently.

Jesus shared a parableThe Bible tells a parable about a lost lamb to illustrate the Father’s heart for lost individuals (Luke 15:3-7). The Good Shepherd was willing to leave the ninety-nine sheep in the fold to search for the one lost lamb. The lamb would never have found the Shepherd on its own. This story shows God’s compassionate care for each person. He spares no effort to locate those who require Him and bring them safely into His presence. Just as lost sheep cannot locate the Shepherd independently, lost individuals cannot find God on their own (Psalm 53:2-3; Romans 3:11).

Religion represents humanity’s endeavor to discover God independently. It establishes a goal, which could be a deity or a higher realm of existence, and then stipulates specific steps needed to achieve that goal. Due to religion, lost individuals perceive themselves as not lost. Picture a hiker who has strayed from the path. After hours of unsuccessful attempts to find the correct route, he opts to pitch a tent in an unfamiliar forest and proclaims that he has arrived home. He no longer seeks rescue. Despite not knowing his location, familiarity with his immediate surroundings gives him the false impression of being found.

Christianity deviates from this approach. Christianity asserts that it is pointless for the lost to try to find God, which is why God dispatched Jesus to seek out the lost. God accomplished for us what we could not accomplish on our own, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Even when we are unaware of being lost, He recognizes our condition. Therefore, the Son of God descended from heaven to locate us and bring us back home (Philippians 2:5-8; Matthew 18:11; John 3:16-18).

We are inherently lost because we hWe have a sinful nature inherited from our first parents (Genesis 3) that compels us to rebel against our Shepherd, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23). We were designed to dwell with Him, walking in harmony and obedience. However, due to our sin, we are estranged, “but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2). The gap between us and God is insurmountable, and we cannot return to His presence on our own. Those who are spiritually lost are ensnared by their sin and doomed to hell (Luke 12:5; Romans 6:23). Yet, when the lost put their faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a pathway opens before them. Through God’s mercy and love, the lost can find their way home, “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:25).

Every individual is either lost or found, belonging to one of these two groups. The initial step to being found is to acknowledge that we are lost. We recognize that our sin merits punishment, and we accept that Jesus’ sacrifice was enough to atone for it. We gratefully receive this gift through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). In a divine transaction, God shifts our sin to the cross and imputes Christ’s righteousness to us, “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2:14).

on/colossians-2-14″>(Colossians 2:14). We then enter into a new relationship with God as His own beloved children. We are no longer lost. We have been found, forgiven, and given a fresh start «Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. », (2 Corinthians 5:17). That’s why Christians can joyfully sing, “I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.”