FOUR WAYS ONE CAN BE LOST
As you read the title of this article please understand that I am talking about being spiritually lost. As I consider life, there is only two conditions that really matter: saved or lost. Am I in a saved relationship with God or a lost relationship with Satan? What about you? A man wrote a book a while back and he titled it, “The Thing About Life Is One Day You Will Be Dead.” The only exception to that is Jesus may come back before you die. But in either case, the question is “Am I ready to meet the Lord?” Jesus, in his earthly ministry was constantly teaching what mankind yet needs to hear. One example is seen in the Sermon on the Mount as recorded by Matthew, chapter 7, verses 13 and 14: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” Think about your life up to this moment in time, are you living on the broad way or the narrow way?
As stated above, Jesus was constantly teaching even as He traveled. Note Luke 13:22 - “And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem.” Now go to Luke 15 and read the first two verses: “Now all the tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. And both the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So some were pleased and some were not. Jesus directs His attention to the Pharisees and scribes as they grumbled about who He included in His teaching. He used parables to help these people understand the message He was teaching. In these parables we can see “ FOUR WAYS ONE CAN BE LOST.”
1. One Can Be Lost From Carelessness.
2. One Can Be Lost From Uselessness.
3. One Can Be Lost From Willfulness.
4. One Can Be Lost From Bitterness.
In the next issue of the STAR HERALD we will begin our study of these four ways. In the meantime, think about where you are in life. Are you serving God? Remember, scripture says, “…you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness” (Romans 6:16). When death comes knocking at my door, I want to be found in obedience. What about you?
Les Ferguson Sr
S. Huntington Church of Christ
