Quit being Saved, and Be Lost
Matthew 10.39
Second Sunday in Lent
The Unobvious Sermon Series
Rev. Matthew M. Fry

As we continue to experience The Word of the Lord together, Let us Pray. Give us, we pray, O God, thoughts higher than our own thoughts, prayers better than our own prayers, powers beyond our biological possibilities, that we may spend and be spent in the preaching and hearing of Thy Word. Amen.

Last week, I stated that this year, as last, during the season of Lent, we would do a series about things that I believe are essential to the Christian experience. I’m calling this series “The Unobvious Series” and it is about the things that I believe to be important things to remember; things we know somewhere deep down, but have been able to conveniently forget because the world and often things that call themselves religious of Christian have told us the exact opposite. These are the things in need to seriously remember to do some self-examination and spiritual re-direction, two traits that characterize Lent.

Last week I gave you three things to ponder, three unobvious pieces of the Christian puzzle that I think are so long forgotten that when folks talk about them, they sound quaint. This week, I’ve only got one. And you don’t even have to write it down. It is the sermon title. Quit being Saved, and be Lost.

“Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

Yes, this too is The Word of the Lord…Thanks be to God.

I don’t want to lose my life. I mean that not in the literal sense, though the prospect of losing my life in the literal sense does not really appeal to me either. But I don’t want to give up the prospect of securing my salvation. I want to do that, to make sure I am saved. I want to live in such a way that everyone can see that I am on the ins with God, that I am clearly one of God’s children, elect for salvation and service. But that’s not because I want to prove to others that I am virtuous. No, I want to leave no doubt for myself that God will love me, and that I am worthy. I want to live in such a way as to leave no choice for God but to accept me, to pull me in and say, “I Love You, You are surely a child of mine.”

This way, I can be in control. This way, I don’t really need faith. I will know for sure that I am saved. Really in this way, I don’t need God. Or grace. Or hope.

My father has two older brothers. The middle brother, Uncle Bob, lives in their hometown of Knoxville. The oldest, Uncle Jim, lives in Jacksonville. This was especially helpful when I was looking at colleges because the college I would attend was one hour south of Jacksonville in beautiful St. Augustine. When I was a senior, we took a late trip to visit the Harvard of the South, Flagler College, class of 91. And we stopped and stayed with Uncle Jim and Aunt Shirley for a night on the way down, and as a way to save some money on a hotel. We took them out to dinner, as a way to thank them for their hospitality. Now, we don’t know Jacksonville, so Dad said, “Let’s go to your favorite place.” We went to a plain place, that just served food. Not fancy food. Not Mexican or Chinese or French or Thai. Not a fancy place like Grace 17.20 or a steakhouse. Not even a chain type place with a salad bar and what you would call American dining. It was a place that served plain food to blue collar people, like my Aunt and Uncle. You ordered a meat and two vegetables. Mashed Potatoes and French Fries were two of the vegetable options. And Jim and Shirley were talking about how good the gravy was there, and that this was why this was their favorite place. Dad and I figured later that it was because the food and my Aunt and Uncle were the same, both uncomplicated, and what you see is what you get. And Dad remarked that is what he has always known from his brother, and what makes Jim a great oldest brother.

We were sitting in the den after we got home, and there was a knock on the door. Granted, it was only 7.00 (because in Florida there is a law about how early people must eat), but even at 7.00 Jim was surprised that someone was stopping by unannounced so late. It was someone passing out religious tracks, trying to save souls. This was the kind of thing I was sure that Jim and Shirley would do, if Dad and I weren’t there. Jim and Shirley still are stalwarts who never would ever miss a Sunday at their church. Anyway, Jim opened the door, the guy hands Jim a tract. And the guy says this, “Are you 100% sure that you are saved and going to heaven?” Jim replied this, “No, I’m not. And neither are you.” And he closed the door on him. He looked at us, me the 17 year old, and Dad the preacher and said this, “He does that all the time. Yesterday he asked for a cup of sugar. Can’t pick your neighbors, huh.” Which was funnier cause it could be the only joke I’ve ever heard Uncle Jim make.

And he’s right. The only way to be 100% sure of your salvation is to secure it yourself. And if you secure your salvation for yourself, you are actually 0% saved.

“Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

Jesus loves the lost. Loves Loves Loves the lost. There are mounds and mounds of passages about the lost. Heck, one chapter in Luke, chapter 15, has three very famous parables about the lost. I could have read from there about the Prodigal Family, or the Lost Coin which when found is rejoiced over as opposed to those that were never lost and therefore never rejoiced over, or the Good Shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to chase one that is lost. But it is sufficient to say this. Jesus is the savior. That is one of the essential tenants that we affirm along with all Christians. What it means for Jesus to be the savior is that Jesus is in the business of saving the lost. Never leaving one stay lost. Forgetting 9 coins to find 1. Which could easily lead to 9 stolen coins, or 9 more lost coins since the woman looking for the coins must have a penchant for loosing coins. Leaving behind 99 sheep to save 1. Which will certainly lead to a lot more lost sheep. The idea of lostness does not seem to bother Jesus when he tells these parables. Instead, it seems to be the trait that Jesus desires for us, since the found are the ones that need rejoicing.

“Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

It’s one of those interesting oxymorons that make up life. You cannot be found in God unless you are lost. Not lost like looking for sin or ways to misbehave. You don’t go about figuring out ways to get more lost. But if you ever rely on the fact that you can find salvation through your determination, hard work, or penitent character, then you will be more lost than even Jesus can find. Literally.

You don’t need to find ways to be lost. You just need to remember that you are in a state of lost, and not even stopping for directions can aide you in finding yourself. I once was lost, but then I found myself. No. I once was lost, but now I’m found. That is passive tense verb usage. I didn’t find myself, I was found. I have realized that when I try to order my life, like my day to day living, such as worrying about over preparing for every little detail, when I try to find myself like that, I am never satisfied. The future always is just one step ahead of me. Likewise, when I try to secure my own soul, to make sure to line up my salvation as if the process were like following a cookbook recipe, then my soul is always more and more lost. Yet, when I just live in the moment, letting the day to day details of tomorrow worry about themselves, then my day to day life is a lot more in tune. And when I worry less about my salvation, and just hand that over to God, willing to lose my life for the sake of Jesus and his salvation, then I am found in God, and am extremely satisfied.

“Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

Amazing Grace indeed. Amen.