This is a familiar story to most of us. The story of the wee little man, Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Christ.
And the story that Luke tells about Zacchaeus, tells us much about Jesus Christ.
Look with me at Luke19, as we revisit this story.
Luke 19:1-10
1Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business, and he had become very rich. 3He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowds. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree beside the road, so he could watch from there.
5When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today.”
6Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7But the crowds were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
8Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
9Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. 10And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.” (Luke 19:1-10, NLT)
We see in this story that Zacchaeus was lost.
We know that Zacchaeus was lost because of what Christ says in verse 10:
10And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.”
Jesus says that he came to save those, like Zacchaeus, who are lost. That is why Jesus came. To save those who were lost.
What does it mean to be lost?
Lost typically means that he or she is unable to find one’s way. They cannot find their way. They are lost.
Jesus speak much about people being lost. He talks about the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the loss son.
We are all familiar with what it means to be lost. And we are familiar with losing things.
And when you have lost something, the first question that is asked is where did you leave it last?
So the first thing we need to do to understand people that are lost. We must understand their location.
Look with me at Romans 3:10—12
10As the Scriptures say,
“No one is good—
not even one.
11No one has real understanding;
no one is seeking God.
12All have turned away from God;
all have gone wrong.
No one does good,
not even one.” (Romans 3:10—12, NLT)
The location of the lost is separated from God. The Bible says that we are all separated from God. None of us are good. None of us have real understanding. None of us are seeking God.
What is our location? When we are lost, we are without God. That is what it means to be lost. God gives direction. God points us toward heaven. God sends us to the correct destination of heaven when we are saved.
But when we are lost, what is that destination?
Look with me at Luke 16:19-31:
19Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed and who lived each day in luxury. 20At his door lay a diseased beggar named Lazarus. 21As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22Finally, the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, 23and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham.
24“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in these flames.’
25“But Abraham said to him, ‘son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. Anyone who wanted to cross over to you from here is stopped at its edge, and no one there can cross over to us.’
27“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, send him to my father’s home. 28For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them about this place of torment so they won’t have to come here when they die.’
29“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read their writings anytime they want to.’
30“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will turn from their sins.’
31“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead.'” (Luke 16:19-31, NLT)
The destination of the lost is a place of Torment, Flames, Aguish, and Separation.
Those who die without Christ die and go to hell.
People ask why would God send someone to hell? God doesn’t send someone to hell. He has provided plenty of opportunity to go to heaven. He has provided his son to be the sacrifice so that we would not need to go to hell. While we deserve the punishment of hell, God made away to Christ.
It is your choice to go to hell. So in effect, you send yourself to hell. You send yourself to hell by the evil they have done. All sin can send you to hell.
It is also your choice to go to heaven. You can choose to accept Christ to be your payment for your sin. You when you acknowledge him as your payment your sin is paid for. And you to live with God forever.
And so we see the Opportunity of the Lost.
Zacchaeous took the opportunity to be saved. He repented of his sin.
Zacchaeus said that he would give half my wealth to the poor, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!
The notorious sinner, reprinted of his sin, and turned to Christ.
Christ gives this opportunity because he wishes no one to perish.
Look with me at 2 Peter 3:9:
9The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:9, NLT)
Our job as Christian’s is to tell others about Christ.
We talked about being a lighthouse.
We lighthouse is someone who prays, someone who cares, and someone who shares the love of Christ with the lost.
Who is on your list?
Do you have a list of just one person that you know is lost that you are praying for?
You know their location.
You know their destination.
And you know the opportunity that God has provided.
Continue to pray for them.
Continue to care for them.
Continue to Share with them.
And what about you? Are you lost tonight?
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