BBD 06.30.05 If You Are Lost
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
1,263 New Subscribers since November 2004
06.30.05
If You Are Lost
(Originally sent 01.21.03)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are
His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that you, once
Gentiles in the flesh.that at that time you were without Christ, being
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of
promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ
Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of
Christ. - Ephesians 2:8-20.
Luc Goguen had the most unpleasant experience of being lost for four days.
Not only was he lost but he was lost in the dangerously cold environment
near his home in Cocagne, New Brunswick. Luc lost control of his all-terrain
vehicle and was forced to try to walk out of the backwoods. Along the way
back he fell in a swamp and lost his boots. Because of being soaked from his
fall and the bitter cold in the snow-covered environment he suffered severe
hypothermia, frostbite and was disoriented when he was found. Luc said about
the experience, "I believe it's a miracle. I never stopped praying."
All who are without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ are spiritually lost
and are living in a most dangerous environment. Their lives are out of
control and the longer a person is spiritually lost the more dangerous their
condition becomes. Eighty-eight percent of all professions of faith in Jesus
come before the age of nineteen. Sixty-eight percent of all professions of
faith occur between the ages of 9 and 14. It is not impossible to be saved
as an adult but as age increases it becomes more and more unlikely.
The Bible clearly describes the pitiful condition of those who are lost
spiritually.
The lost are without life. "He who has the Son has life; he who does not
have the Son of God does not have life (I John 5:12)." We have eternal life
only through Jesus.
The lost are without true peace. "'There is no peace,' says my God, 'for the
wicked (Isaiah 57:21).'" Only through Christ can we truly have peace. "For
He Himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14a)."
The lost are without spiritual strength. "For when we were still without
strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6)." We have
strength through Christ as the apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:13, "I can
do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
The lost are without hope and without God. ".having no hope and without God
in the world (Ephesians 2:12c)." Our God is a God of hope. "Now may the God
of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:24)."
The lost are without excuse. "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a
salvation (Hebrews 2:3a)." "For since the creation of the world His
invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that
are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without
excuse (Romans 1:20."
So, if you are lost let me suggest that you do as Luc Goguen did - PRAY!
Pray and ask God through Jesus Christ to save you. Jesus is saying even now
to you, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and
opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me
(Revelation 3:20)." Why not pray right now? Open up the door of your heart
and invite Jesus to come in.
Copyright © 2003-2005. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
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