Loving the Lost

Look at the above photograph and consider the beauty, grandeur, and majesty of God's creation.  God's word tells us that both believers and unbelievers can enjoy life, love, joy, food, shelter, clothing, sunshine, rain, and loving relationships as part of experiencing God's common goodness (Psalm 145:9).  In spite of their rebellion, unbelievers experience innumerable blessings on a daily basis, even down to their very heartbeat.  

Many times I've gritted my teeth at the evil perpetrated by the lost.  There's nothing wrong with righteous indignation and experiencing grief in our souls over the relentless destruction that unbelieving, autonomous thought brings to the world.  But I want you to consider a few things:

• Don't forget that you too were once one of them, dead in your trespasses and sins, controlled by the demonic realm, going about in the futility of your mind and while being darkened in your understanding and you were thoroughly enjoying it while spreading your version of wickedness before men (Eph. 2:1-10; 4:17-18).  
• Remember that Jesus Himself had compassion on the hungry multitudes who were like sheep without a Shepherd.  He was distressed that such would be the case (Mark 6:34).  Jesus also said, ". . . the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28)  
• When Jesus encountered the rich young ruler and the young man told him he had kept the commands Jesus quoted since he was a youth, he proved that he was terribly self-deceived.  After seeing this evident self-deception, Jesus looked at him and "felt a love for him . . ." (Mark 10:21).
• Paul said, "I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it." (1 Cor. 9:23) and ". . . I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory." (2 Tim. 2:10)
• Jesus and Paul labored for the gospel, gave their lives for the gospel, and the results of their labor of love saw many unbelievers come into the Kingdom. 

Seek to have Jesus and Paul as your spiritual role models when it comes to your interactions with the lost.  Let their example of love for unbelievers motivate you by the power of the Spirit to love them enough to snatch them from the fire (Jude 23).  Unbelievers do what they do because they are spiritually enslaved to their own sinful desires to do so (John 8:44).  We would all do well to remember these things as we travel through this world looking unto a better country whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:16).