Once Lost, Now Found
By Dianne Prince
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1, NKJV)
Before we came to Christ, Scripture paints a sobering picture of our condition. We were dead in sin, separated from God, and walking according to the ways of the world (Ephesians 2:1–3). Our thoughts, desires, and actions were driven by selfishness and disobedience. Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:21 that we were once enemies of God in our minds. We lived for ourselves, deceived by sin, and unable to save ourselves (Titus 3:3).
But in the midst of this hopelessness, God’s love broke through. Romans 5:8 declares that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He did not wait for us to change first. Instead, He reached us in our brokenness and offered life, forgiveness, and mercy. Through Jesus, those who were once “not a people” have become God’s chosen, redeemed, and beloved (1 Peter 2:10).
This truth should keep us humble and grateful, but it should also shape how we treat others. If Christ extended such patience, love, and grace toward us, we must extend the same toward those who do not yet know Him. Rather than condemning, we are called to point others to the same hope that rescued us.
