Luke 15:3-7, “Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
If you are a Star Trek fan like me, you will remember Spock’s infamous words to Captain Kirk when he sacrificed himself to save their spaceship The Enterprise, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few – or the one.” Spock rescued the space ship from imminent destruction but as a result, lost his life.
Henry Spencer and Charles Darwin suggested that the fittest humans will rise to the top through natural selection. The weaker human beings would not prevail. Evolutionist push the idea that only the dominant survive.
But Jesus, He was all about the one.
At times in our lives, we are the one sheep, separated from the group, alone, hurt, grieving, confused, and abandoned. And He comes after us. It seems a bit strange to imagine that God is more concerned with one sinner than over ninety-nine people who do not need to repent. The more sensible route would be to let the one go and focus on the 99. That is probably what you and I would do. But our God is a relentless Savior. That’s what sets Him apart from the gods man has manufactured or the demons of this world. Have you ever asked yourself, why He saves?
Simply, it brings Him joy. He rejoices in our return to Him for His love for us is deeper than we can comprehend.
Psalm 139:7-12, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”
So, are you the one? Are you lost and alone? Be assured, Jesus is working to bring you back to His flock. There is nowhere you can hide from His presence. There is nowhere you can go that He will not seek you out. There is nothing you can do to keep Him from finding you.
