"How Can I Be Lost?"

Steven J. Wallace

Luke 9:25, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?”

Our Lord shows that one may find great success in worldly pursuits and pleasures and yet at the same time be “destroyed” (ruined) and “lost” forfeiting his spiritual welfare. Jesus speaks of “spiritual” loss, not temporal loss. Adam Clarke observed:

“…if a man received only temporal damage…gaining the whole world must amply compensate him. But if he should receive spiritual damage…the possession of the universe could not indemnify him. Earthly goods may repair earthly losses, but they cannot repair any breach that may be made in the peace or holiness of the soul.”1

We should readily see:

1. Worldly success is not a measurement of spiritual strength (see also, Matt. 16:26).
2. The value of a man is not measured by what he physically gains through his senses. Higher learning from heaven is dull to the natural man (1 Cor. 2:14).
3. The salvation of a single person from destruction is vastly more significant and valuable than all the riches that can be offered or accumulated in this life.

One should be struck with fear at the thought of being lost and eternally separated from God. “How could I be lost?” is a question for all to consider. How is anyone lost? Isaiah penned:

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isa. 59:2, emphasis added).

Writing of accountable people, Paul charges that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).

Focusing on the “good” deeds we have done doesn’t change the fact that we are lost. Men can become blind to heaven’s laws by esteeming their own earthly existence. Being a good neighbor, paying taxes, opening doors for others, being a dependable worker, or even an understanding employer doesn’t erase one single sin we have committed against heaven. “How could I be lost” when I am benevolent to the poor? How could I be lost when I have a good reputation among men? How could I be lost when I treat my fellow neighbor well and strive to be a proper role model to others?

Likewise, focusing on the absence of evil works will not help my case. How could I be lost when I haven’t stolen from another or when I haven’t gone out of my way to hurt my neighbor? How could I be lost when I haven’t participated in a scandal or crime?
While it is important to be involved in doing good and refraining from evil, we must know what “good” and “evil” are before Almighty God. Although Job strove to live in integrity, to be eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, and a father to the poor, he needed to be saved. Although he would search out a case and break the fangs of the wicked, even Job was in need of a savior (Job 29:15-17). He would eventually learn, “Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse” (Job 9:20).

Having a day in the high court before God recounting all the good he did would not prove beneficial. Where we see blamelessness, God sees everything we have ever done. He knows every thought we have ever thought and every desire that we have ever wished. Every lie and half-truth we’ve ever told is on record. On record are the times when we should have stood up and spoken the truth but failed. On record are the times we’ve coveted what was not ours and lusted after things that are sinful. Every hateful thought, every malicious and slanderous word, and even every idle word is registered there. Every idol we have built to every proud thought to every unholy ambition we pursued would utterly glare at us piercing deep into our naked soul in heaven’s court!

Although the people that assembled on Pentecost were counted “devout men” from every nation under heaven, they were guilty of lawlessly crucifying God’s anointed (Acts 2:5, 23, 36). Their response was not “How could I be lost?” Rather, in humility they asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).

The case with Gentiles is no different. Cornelius was a devout and generous man, but there was something that he must be told that required something he must do (see Acts 10:6; 11:14). When he was commanded to be baptized, he didn’t say, “How could I be lost?” Rather, he received the blessed command and asked the preacher to stay a few days. God had granted the Gentiles repentance to life (Acts 10:47, 48; 11:18)!
To not be destroyed and forfeit the soul’s welfare is one of life’s most important tasks. Be diligent to search for eternal life in Jesus (Jn. 14:6). Develop faith, repent of sin (a change of mind leading to a change of action), confess Jesus as Lord, and be baptized with Him into death to rise into newness of life (Rom. 6:3-5; 10:9, 10). In Christ live a sanctified life that fears God and works righteousness, worshiping God in spirit and in truth, and being a service worker for the Lord (Acts 10:34, 35; Jn. 4:23, 24; Rom. 12:1,2). In 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15, Paul exhorted:

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

1 Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible. A. Clarke. 1826. Electronic edition as found in the Online Bible.