What Does It Mean To Be Lost?

While this may sound like a ridiculous question, I am amazed at the many and varied answers I get.

I have only met a few people in my whole life who even said that they wanted to go to hell and I seriously doubt their honesty. Almost everyone I talk to not only wants to go to heaven but believes that, ultimately, they will make it. Most people seem to believe that all of their friends and loved ones go to heaven regardless of anything else.

While this would be wonderful if it was true, the Bible declares that it is not.

You do not have to commit murder to be lost. You do not have to commit adultery or some other horrible sexual sin. You do not have to rob a bank. You do not have to swear and cuss. You do not have to be a drunkard. You do not have to be an atheist. None of these things make you lost and on your way to hell. Sinning does not make you lost. In fact, we begin sinning because we are already lost.

You can be very moral and upright and still be lost. You can attend church every service. You can be the most honest person alive. You can be a "tee-totaler". You can be as pure as a new fallen snow. You can speak the most pleasant words and be kind and encouraging to every one you meet. You can believe in God, read the Bible, pray, and even fast three times a week and still be lost.

Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" You would not be alone in thinking that being good and doing lots of good works entitles you to be saved and go to heaven but you would still be lost.

The Bible is very clear that mankind is lost by our very nature. We don’t have to do anything to be lost because we are born with a depraved nature. We do not have to learn to sin and do wrong. We have to be corrected and taught to do right.

To be lost and go to hell, you do not have to do anything.

However, the question is "What must I do to be SAVED?" Again, the answer is not by being good. Ephesians 2:8-9 " For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

The people in Matthew 7:22 had done "many wonderful works" but they were still cast out from the presence of God and cast into hell.

Salvation is not of man or of man’s work. Salvation is the free gift of God bestowed upon anyone and everyone who will admit that they are lost sinners and rightfully deserve to be sent to hell. People who see themselves as lost and are willing to ask God to forgive them and then put their total faith and trust in Him to save them shall be saved. Anyone who tries to enter heaven by any other way than repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ shall find themselves in hell.

John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."