Our reading is 1 Timothy 2:1-6. This epistle was written in the year 60 by the apostle Paul. It is a personal letter. Paul is writing to an individual, Timothy. It cannot be overstated, the relationship between Paul and Timothy was close. Many believed Paul led Timothy to faith in Christ. In time, Paul trusted Timothy enough to lead the church in his absence. This letter is a word of instruction to a young pastor.

Our reading needs some interpretation. Paul is encouraging Timothy to pray for political leaders. When these words were written the ultimate political power was Nero. (A.D. 54-68). Paul wants Timothy to pray for Nero, as well as other political leaders. He is not interested in them making wise policies on behalf of the country. Paul is asking Timothy to pray for their salvation. Verse three and four say it best, “this is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  The salvation of these political leaders means two things. First, it means they will have better lives in this world. Second, it means they will spend eternity with God. When was the last time you prayed for someone else’s salvation? Do you know of anyone who is spiritually lost? This blog is about praying for the spiritually lost. There are three reasons, let me list them for you.

In 2004, mighty winds blew down the backyard fence of Barne’s family home. Within a matter of minutes the family dog, named “Sam I Am,” ran away. They looked everywhere for him, but he couldn’t be found. Sad but true, the family pressed forward without him. For two years the family functioned with a void in their lives, especially seven-year-old Brett. However, he never forgot his dog and never gave up hope. Two years later his faithfulness was rewarded. The Florida family received a phone call from McHenry County Animal Shelter in Illinois. They had in their possession “Sam I Am.” The dog was identified with the help of a microchip in his collar. No one could answer how the dog survived for the two-year period? Or how “Sam I Am” traveled more than 1200 miles? Seven-year-old Brett didn’t care about the details. The only thing that mattered to him was that his lost dog was found. This is the best part – the dog didn’t even know he was lost. That is the story of our world. Two-thirds of our world are lost, and they don’t even know it.

Sometimes people are lost because they are misinformed. I know this will sound politically incorrect, narrow-minded and judgmental, however, our only hope of salvation is in Jesus. Christianity is the only religion in the world that offers the truth. I respect the beliefs of other world religions, but I believe Christianity is the truth. There are 8.025 billion people in the world. Two-thirds of the world’s population does not follow Jesus; Two-thirds of the world’s population is misinformed. Your belief in Jesus is not optional; your belief in Jesus is indispensable. The salvation of your very soul depends upon it. Sometimes people are spiritually lost because they are misinformed.

One of the great stories in the Bible comes from the twenty-third chapter of Luke. It is late in Jesus’ earthly life. It is so near the end Jesus finds himself hanging on the cross. You remember the story. He is one of three to die that day and Jesus is hanging in the middle. As they wait for death to come, the three talk. One man asks Jesus to save him. The other man rebukes him. He says they deserve to die for their deeds, but Jesus has done nothing wrong. In Luke 23:43, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”  The man did nothing to deserve salvation, but he was going to heaven. It wasn’t logical. He was saved by grace and by grace alone. It doesn’t sound logical, but we are saved by grace and by grace alone.

Sometimes people are spiritually lost because they are misguided. This happens when people try to make their salvation logical. There is nothing logical about the Christian faith. The cornerstone of our faith is the illogical resurrection of Jesus. It breaks scientific law. Your salvation is not logical. You cannot earn your way into heaven. We are saved by grace and by grace alone! Sometimes people are lost because they are misguided.

Sometimes people are spiritually lost because they are misdirected. That happens when church people replace Jesus with the organizational church or a pastor. The organizational church cannot save you. Your pastor cannot save you. Churches only exist for three reasons. First, churches exist to worship God. Second, churches exist to teach you about Jesus. Third, churches exist to help you live out your purpose. Pastors are called to orchestrate these three things. Don’t confuse your devotion to your organizational church with Jesus. They are two different things. You can know everything about your church and nothing at all about Jesus. Do you know of anyone who loves their church but is only slightly interested in Jesus? Sometimes people are spiritually lost because they are misdirected.

In 1994, my daughter, Anna, was four years old. My wife Kathryn entrusted her to me after a church dinner one Sunday. I got busy talking to people and the time passed quickly. When it was time to go home, I began looking for Anna. She had been playing with a few other children, so I began looking for her in the normal spots, my office and the nursery. Then, I looked in the Sunday school rooms, and I called down the back hall. I walked through the parlor and into the kitchen. I asked everyone, “Has anyone seen Anna?” No one had seen her, but one of the saints named Bob offered to help me look. We looked behind the stage and in the narthex. I began to panic as I looked under the pews in the sanctuary. I thought about the last child on the news who had been abducted. I thought about telling my wife our daughter was gone. I remember feeling like a horrible parent, and I will be honest, I almost began to cry. As the first tear was coming, Bob returned and said, “I found her.” He motioned me to follow him, and he led me to the front of the church building. Anna was sitting under the portico throwing rocks. While I was dying a thousand deaths, she was having the time of her life! This is the truth. 

When I get to heaven, I am going to look for Anna again. It wouldn’t be the same without her. I am going to look for her and I am going to find her. I have no question about my children’s salvation. I have no question about my wife’s salvation. We know it begins and ends with Jesus. But I am not just going to look for them. I am going to look for other people in my life. When I get to heaven, I am going to look for Bob and thank him for his help on that day. I am going to look for all the people who have filled my life. This is the question you must answer. Do you know it all begins and ends with Jesus? He is our only hope of salvation. Heaven wouldn’t be the same without you!  Who are you going to look for when you get to heaven?