In A Maze

Luke 19:10: For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Lost is a horrible word. Do you remember ever being lost? Do you remember the awful feelings you had when you didn*t know where you were or how to get where you wanted to go. It is a shock to be going along and suddenly realize you are in some strange place where you never intended to be. As shocking as that is you were worse off when you were lost but didn*t know it. At least when you know you are lost you will seek a way out. Many spiritually lost people don*t realize they are lost until it is too late.

Revelation 3:17: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

We who are saved try to tell people that they are lost so that they will seek to be found. We know more about their condition than they do. A poor illustration: We are on a higher level watching them wander around in a maze. We are not looking down our noses at them because we used to be where they are. We try to tell them that they are headed for danger but they won*t listen or can*t hear.

Matthew 15:14: Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

We cry out You are on a train speeding head-on toward another one on the same track. They don*t hear or won*t listen. You are on a narrow ledge that has no end. They don*t hear or won*t listen. At some point you will be unable to stay on it. They don*t hear or won*t listen. You are getting on an elevator that only goes down. They don*t hear or won*t listen. The doors behind you are closing and locking so you can*t find your way back. They don*t hear or won*t listen. You are going away from what you want. They don*t hear or won*t listen. You have been given wrong directions. They don*t hear or won*t listen. You are following someone who doesn*t know the way. They don*t hear or won*t listen. There is only trouble ahead of you. They don*t hear or won*t listen. You are on a staircase that only goes up for a little while. The stairs and you will both fall onto a slide. You will be helpless to stop going down that slide. They don*t hear or won*t listen. You are crossing a bridge that cannot support your weight over a tank of acid that will destroy you. They don*t hear or won*t listen. You are going farther from God. They don*t hear or won*t listen. Just one step to the right will put you in the arms of Jesus. They don*t hear or won*t listen. This is the only way out. They don*t hear or won*t listen.

John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Matthew 7:13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The joy of being saved is for Christians blended with the sorrow of watching the lost. I must confess that I got this study from a horrible nightmare in which I experienced many of those dangers and worse. It seemed very real. There was no escape. I was so thankful when I awoke and realized it was only a dream. When God saved me He rescued me from a maze. Just like unbelievers I was not aware of the great danger I was in. I believe the dream was to awaken me (and perhaps you) to the desperate plight of the lost.

Everybody wants a Saviour. Very few want a leader.

John 10:27: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Jesus must be both Saviour and Leader. If people reject Jesus as Leader they also reject Him as Saviour. They will be misled. How could they be led to heaven without the only leader who can lead them there? Apart from Jesus* leadership no one can find their way out of the maze.

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