Lost Sheep

"What do you think? Suppose a man has 100 sheep and one of them strays. Won't he leave the 99 sheep in the hills to look for the one that has strayed? I can guarantee this truth: If he finds it, he is happier about it than about the 99 that have not strayed. In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost." Matthew 18:12-14

Translation of Scripture can be misleading at times. In the Scripture above, something is missing that I think is a key to understanding what Jesus was really saying about the lost. Verse 14 in the God's Word translation says: "In the same way, your Father in heaven does not want one of these little ones to be lost." Translated in this way makes it sound like the sheep could possibly stay lost and might not ever be found and brought back to the fold.

A more literal translation of this verse is found using the "Young's Literal Translation". In Young's verse 14 reads: "...so it is not the "will" in presence of your Father who is in the heavens, that one of these little ones may perish." The "Concordant Literal Translation" reads: "Thus it is not the "will" in front of your Father Who is in the heavens that one of these little ones should be perishing."

The original word in the Greek for "will" is the word "Thelema". It's meaning according to Strong's Lexicon is:

1. what one wishes or has determined shall be done
   1. of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ
   2. of what God wishes to be done by us
      1. commands, precepts
2. will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure

In my opinion, this puts a whole new meaning to the lost sheep. The "will" of God, or the purpose of God, has been determined. He "will" find the lost and bring them back to fold.

Most of us have been taught that our will can over ride God's will. In other words, we have the choice to be and stay lost. Is that really what Scripture teaches?

"He turned their heart to hate His people, to plot against His servants." Psalm 105:25

"All abiding on the earth are reckoned as naught. According to His will is He doing...with those abiding on the earth." Daniel 4:35

"(He) is operating all in according with the counsel of His will." Ephesians 1:11

"Consequently, then, it is not of him who is willing, nor of him who is racing, but of God, the Merciful." Romans 9:16

"Consequently, then, to whom He will, He is merciful, yet whom He will, He is hardening. Romans 9:18

"Has not the potter the right over the clay, out of the same kneading to make one vessel, indeed, for honor, yet one for dishonor?" Romans 9:21

"Heaven must receive Jesus until the time when everything will be restored as God promised through his holy prophets long ago." Acts 3:21

"For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of believers." 1 Timothy 4:10

"and He Himself is the propitiation (covering) for our sins; and not only ours, but for those of the whole world." 1 John 2:2

These are just a few Scriptures that let us know what is God's will. There is a picture of mankind struggling with life throughout Scripture, and we certainly know how much we struggle today! But we are told that God has the right to make different subjects from the clay. One for honor, one for dishonor. We are told that God is doing what he wills for those abiding on the earth.

I am told that what I believe is considered heresy in the doctrines of the modern "church". It's interesting that the early church held to the doctrine that God was in control and willing that "none should perish". I hope and pray that the Scriptures above have not changed in their meaning...and there are many more that let us know God's will for mankind is that HE is willing to save those He created. I may not fully understand Scripture, or the ways of God...but I do understand the words mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love.