“For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” – Luke 19:10
Perched at the northernmost tip of Kauai island in Hawaii, the 52-foot Kilauea Lighthouse was built in 1913 as a beacon for travelling ships. It is one of the island’s most frequented attractions. On my first visit to Kauai in 2011, I was immediately struck by the gorgeous sight. I also realised that the lighthouse had a lot to do with the beauty of this landscape. No mere historic monument, this purposeful structure is a vital help to people in ships who cross the dangerous seas.
No matter how beautiful, popular or “good” a person is, if he dies without being rescued by Jesus Christ, this person is lost forever (John 8:24).
This is the most single most important purpose of every human life: to discover and be reconciled to his Maker. Jesus came to earth to accomplish this reconciliation for us, so that all who believe upon him will have everlasting life (John 3:16).
To Jesus’ disciples, he gave but a singular commission: to go to where the lost are, and to save them for a new life in him. He used many different metaphors for the loving, multiplying, life-giving people we must become – “salt of the earth”, “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14), “stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:15), even “farmers” (2 Timothy 2:6). But the heart of the mission he gave to us is to do what he did.
We are to make the gospel known to the lost, in word and deed. We are to introduce people to Jesus and teach them to love and follow him. The significance of this assignment is no less than that of bringing a storm-tossed ship safely to shore.
One of our church’s core values reads simply, “We value making the gospel known to the lost.” As we press on in our journey to become a disciplemaking church, each of us has the assignment to go out and make Christ known.
On the cross, and through the Holy Spirit, a loving and faithful God has done His best work in us. May this amazing and beautiful gospel shine out from our very lives so that all the lost may be drawn to Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.
By Aaron Lee, Elder (YCKC Bulletin 19&20 April 2014)