Do you remember Jesus’ parable about the Shepherd leaving the 99 and going after the lost 1?
“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that is lost? And if it turns out that he finds it, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not get lost. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones be lost.” [Matthew 18: 12-14]
There are a number of lessons in this parable though we tend to focus only on the fact that the Shepherd went after and found the lost one.
Let’s look at what’s being said and done a tad closer. First, back up a verse to 11:
“[For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]”
In those 13 words, Jesus summed up Who He is, Why He came, What He does, and How He goes about it. And it isn’t the first time that He tried to explain all that. Point being that even if YOU were the only lost sheep, or strayed away sheep, He still would have searched for you. Do you even comprehend just how important you are? Jesus, gave His life for YOU (and all who believe on Him)… willingly, knowing from the beginning what the end would be.
I have heard ‘others’ say… so what happened to the 99 – He left them defenseless! Does it say that? NO! Why would anyone do that… then they would have to seek out the rest of the 99 now lost sheep – would that make sense? Of course not. The Shepherd secured the 99 until He could return. He would have done what needed to be done for them before proceeding after the lost. Now put that into the context that the Shepherd always goes after the 1.
Would He go back on His Word that tells us that He would never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5)? Has He EVER gone back on His Word? No (Numbers 23:19). And He doesn’t lie (Hebrews 6:18). And I have never believed that the 1 is more valuable or precious to Him than the 99 – it’s that the 1 was in need while the 99 weren’t. God does not show partiality… period (Deuteronomy 10:17, Romans 2:11)!!
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].” [John 3: 17-18]
The Lord always takes care of His own and goes to great lengths to keep them safe. But ultimately it is always OUR decision. I wonder how much, how far we would go to save the 1? And for us all, once you are saved you have the Bible available for you to learn who You are becoming, what’s available to assist You, who You have been made to be, and the glorious future awaiting you. While the 99 are important… so is the 1. And remember… once you were a 1.
