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You Need To Know You're Lost If You Want To Be Found

Lost Jesus, Good Shepherd Self-righteousness

Source: "Turkey: Missing' man joins search party looking for himself," published BBC.com, 30 September 2021

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2025-05-29

Scripture: Luke 19:10 ; Hebrews 3:15

Author: Illustration Exchange
6

ILLUSTRATION

In 2021, a Turkish man named Beyhan Mutlu was reported missing after he wandered into a forest while drinking with friends. His wife and friends alerted authorities, and a search party was formed. Unaware that he was the subject of the search, Mutlu stumbled upon the group and decided to help them look for the "missing person." After hours of searching, he finally realized they were calling out his own name and responded, "I am here."

When he was taken aside by one of the rescuer workers to give a statement, he said, "Don't punish me too harshly, officer. My father will kill me."

APPLICATION

One of the greatest challenges of evangelism is convincing the "lost" that they are indeed lost. So given to reiliance on our own "self"-righteousness, we find it nearly impossible to admit we actually need a Savior.

Yet the Lord persists in hunting us down, wooing us, calling our names. 

"If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?" (Matthew 18:12, NLT).

"For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost" (Luke 19:10, NLT).

Like poor Beyhand Mutlu, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way ..." We're all spiritually intoxicated, staggering around in the woods not even aware that we need help.

Yet, He IS calling you! So, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as [Israel] did in the rebellion" (Hebrews 3:15, NIV). They'll be no angry father awaiting you, only the warm embrace of grace from the arms of the Savior.

 

Quieting to Hear God's Voice

Listening Lost Fear

Source: Personal

Contributed By: DW Chisham | Date Posted: 2024-02-29

Scripture: Psalms 131:2 ; 1 Kings 19:12

Author: DW Chisham
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ILLUSTRATION

My father-in-law grew up on a ranch north of Austin, Texas. As a boy he was given free reign to walk the fields and hillsides of his family's property, hunting for birds and any other adventure a boy could come up with. 

One day he set out into the range, watching the trees and skies for birds. As he walked he neglected to keep his bearings. Hours into his adventure, he looked around, realizing that he didn't recognize his surroundings.  He called out for his father, his mother, his brothers, but there was no answer.  He called louder, and his cries of fear grew louder still.  But he was good and lost.

He sat down on a rock and the tears flowed for a while until he finally quieted himself down. And in the distance he heard something familiar; it was the windmill for the watering trough. It was faint, but he was able to tell the general direction. Following the faint sound, he found his way to the windmill, and from the windmill, his way home.

APPLICATION

Have you ever found yourself lost in life, without your bearings? Perhaps you've wondered so far from the path of wisdom that you don't even realize just how lost you are. But once you do, fear and panic overtake you. In the chaos, the noise of your circumstances can overwhelm you and drown out the one sound you actually need to hear ... that "still small voice" of God.

Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, small voice. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave" (I Kings 19:11-13, BSB).

We have to learn to quiet ourselves enough to hear the voice of God leading us back to Himself.

"But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me" (Psalm 131:2, ESV).

“Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10, ESV).

Lost Or Confused

Pride Lost Arrogance

Source: Attributed to NELSON’S MINISTER’S MANUAL, 1992 edition, by Thomas Nelson Publishers, p. 313

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2016-02-10

Scripture: Matthew 23:12 ; John 10:9

Author: Attributed to Thomas Nelson Publishers
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ILLUSTRATION

Daniel Boone explored the great wilderness of Tennessee and Kentucky. It was Boone who marked the wilderness road that brought settlers into the new land. He often wandered over vast areas of forest, living off the land and dodging arrows. Once he was asked if he had ever been lost. He replied, “No.” But he did admit that he was “a mite confused once for about three or four days though!”

APPLICATION

Perhaps it matters little that Boone’s pride would not allow him to admit that he’d ever been lost, in need of guidance. It matters a lot, however, if our pride keeps us from admitting that we are lost without Christ.

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture" (John 10:9).

"For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12).

Everyone Wants A Winner

Salvation Lost Jesus, Savior

Contributed By: Chris Horton | Date Posted: 2014-10-20

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1:15

Author: Harvey Mackay
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Missing Woman Doesn't Know She's Lost

Lost Self-examination Salvation

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-03-18

Scripture: Isaiah 53:6 ; Luke 15:4

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Don't Recycle Thanksgiving

Thankfulness Worldliness Priorities

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-12-10

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ; Psalms 100:4

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Enter the Poison Garden

Sin Worldliness Spiritual Death

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-10-14

Scripture: Genesis 2:17 ; Romans 5:12

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Don't Eat the Cessna

Desires Sin Self-deceived

Contributed By: Herry Herry | Date Posted: 2024-09-18

Scripture: James 1:14 ; Ephesians 2:3

Author: Tama Sinulingga
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It's An Uphill Battle

Purpose Worldliness Vanity

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-09-03

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17 ; Proverbs 19:21

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Seeing Clearly

Spiritual Blindness Evangelism Discipleship

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-01-02

Scripture: Mark 8:23 ; Matthew 4:16

Author: Illustration Exchange
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