Found in The Fight | How Jesus Seeks Out The Lost

By Chaplain Zach Anderson | The Fight Life Ministries

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How do you feel when you can’t find something?

Your keys vanish as you're rushing out the door. Your phone disappears just when you need it most. Your mouthguard is nowhere to be found just before stepping on the mats to spar. It's frustrating. Panic sets in. Everything stops.

What about something even more serious: losing your pet... or worse, a child! Your world freezes. Your stomach sinks. Nothing else matters until they're found.

Or what if you're the one who's lost? It’s a horrible feeling, isn’t it? Sometimes we can be that way in life.

Ever felt like you were just wandering around without direction, desperate for someone to show you the way? We've all been there in some form—and without Jesus—we’re all that way! Being lost, without direction and purpose, can feel and be so defeating. It can leave us numb, hopeless, defeated. It’s even more defeating than losing a title fight.

Lost in The Bra Section

I always loved going to Walmart with my mom as a kid. It was always fun and such an adventure. I never left her side too much, but every now and then I’d play games on one of the PlayStations that were set up in the gaming area. If you're old enough to remember, as a kid, those screens felt like they were 50ft in the air. You'd have to tilt your head straight up to see the screen, and after a few minutes, it felt like your head was about to fall off.

Time spent in the gaming area was always memorable. There was this one time, however, in second grade or so that something even more memorable happened.

I realized I didn’t know where my mom was! I glanced around, rubbing my neck in anguish. Eventually I found myself wandering into the middle of the bra section, the obvious place you’d find your mom, right?. Yes, it was as horrific as you can imagine and obviously impactful because I'm still telling the story. It didn’t matter that it was the bra section because I just wanted my mom to find me.

After what felt like an hour, but was probably more like mere minutes, of course she found me. What a relief! Now, maybe you’ve never been lost in the lingerie section of Walmart as a kid. But I’m sure you’ve felt that same ache, lost in life, hoping someone notices and points the way for you.

In life, we don't always look lost. We can slap on a smile, act tough, pretend we've got it all figured out. But inside we're wandering and searching for purpose, clarity, and direction. All of us crave guidance in the fight of life.

If you can relate, you're not alone!

Our Roadmap in The Fight

There’s no better guide than our Bibles. The Bible isn't just an old book. Think of it as God's roadmap or fight plan for us. And it certainly has a lot to say about being lost.

It’s full of His love, His direction, His promises, and His story. If you don't have a Bible, we’d love to send you one in a translation that’s easy to understand and read. You can visit our main page and click on “Get Started”. We will gladly send you one for free.

Today, we’ll be reading from the book of Luke. Luke is one of four gospels. There’s Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—all of which record Jesus’ ministry.

We will be reading from Luke 19:2-10 (NASB). The story we read takes place as Jesus is heading to Jerusalem, it’s before he goes to the cross and rises from the grave (what we celebrate at Easter).

2 And there was a man called by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. 3 Zacchaeus was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable due to the crowd, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree in order to see Him, because He was about to pass through that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 And he hurried and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 When the people saw this, they all began to complain, saying, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!” 8 But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am giving back four times as much.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

The Most Hated Guy Around

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. He was rich, powerful, and also despised. Tax collectors worked for the Roman Empire and would often overcharge people and pocket the extra. He also ran a whole district and had other tax collectors working for him, which meant he got a cut from all of them as well. So, to say he was despised is probably an understatement.

Try to imagine that kind of reputation following you everywhere you went.

Now, word about Jesus, rumors and stories were spreading all over about this man that can raise the dead and heal the sick. He was announcing a new Kingdom and all of it seemed too good to be true. Zacchaeus got curious. "What if it's true?"

Jesus enters the city and Zacchaeus wanted to see Him, but obstacles blocked him. There was a massive crowd, packed streets, and on top of it all, he was short. He couldn't see over anyone. There was a lot in his way and if he let those obstacles hold him back from seeing Jesus we would have a very different story.

Sound familiar? The excuses we make can pile up fast: I'm too messed up. I'm not good enough. I need to get my life together first. And, I think we've all heard the classic: I need to get in shape before I start training. Our excuses can be many, and our excuses can sometimes be childish.

Zacchaeus refused excuses. Desperate for change, he ran ahead and climbed a tree just to catch a glimpse. Remember, Zacchaeus is kind of a dirtbag. But he did what it took to see Jesus.

When you're truly hungry for a way out, there’s no barrier that will stop you. When you’re desperate for change, there’s no excuse that will hold you back.

Jesus Wants a Place In Your Life

Jesus spots him. He calls him by name and then invites Himself over to his house, saying: “Hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” Zacchaeus jumps down and welcomes Him with great joy.

We read that the crowd wasn’t as excited about this interaction: “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!” The crowd missed it and didn’t understand the true mission and purpose of Jesus.

Jesus stayed true to His purpose even to the last days before His death, regardless of what others thought. He came to seek and save the lost.

Jesus is doing the same today. He's not waiting for you to clean up or get “in shape” before going to Him. He's knocking on the door of our hearts and asking for a place to stay. Background doesn’t matter. Neither does our occupation or our past sins. The only barrier between us and getting found is the one we allow.

The Real Fight Against Sin

The crowd called Zacchaeus a sinner, and they were right! (They were just as sinful too). He was far from God because of his sin. Sin, to put simply, means going against God's way. And our Bibles, our roadmaps, tell us that sin’s cost is steep and pricey.

Romans 6:23 (NASB): “For the wages of sin is death…”

Romans 3:23(NASB): “…everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

We're no better than Zacchaeus. Encouraging, right? We’ve all fallen short in our own ways and missed the mark that God has put before us as His creation. We all deserve death, not just a physical death, but a spiritual death. It’s an eternal separation from a perfect God.

But if we finish the verse in chapter six of Romans, we find hope: “… but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

And let’s also finish the rest of Romans 3:24: “… Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”

Jesus came to seek and save you. He knows you're lost and fighting for a glimmer of hope. He's the missing puzzle piece in your heart. He lived perfectly, died in your place, and took your penalty. He paid the steep price with His own life.

Then He rose from the grave, proving Himself to be God. His sacrifice was enough. This is what we celebrate on Easter. Our God is alive! He rose to heaven and is coming back. This is the Jesus of the Bible. He’s not a dead relic but the Price of Peace. He loves you and He desires a relationship with you.

He offers life and life to the fullest. It’s not something you earn. This life is a gift. It’s what grace-filled victory is all about.

Zacchaeus' Transformation... And Yours

Encountering Jesus changed everything. Zacchaeus declared: “…half of my possessions I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am giving back four times as much.”

True change flowed from a transformed heart. You don't have to get it all together before going to Jesus. You don’t have to understand everything before you say yes. The only thing separating you from Him is whatever excuse you choose to use; that’s how cool Jesus is. He wants you just as you are right this second.

How did Jesus respond to Zacchaeus? “Today salvation has come to this house… For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Just say yes.

If you're ready to go from lost to found, from death to life, pray this right now:

Jesus, I'm lost. I've tried everything, nothing fits the hole in my heart. I know I'm a sinner. Today I choose You. Forgive me. Come into my home, my life. This is my new beginning. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, awesome! We'd love to celebrate with you. It’s the greatest choice you can ever make. Please let us know in the comments below or on our home page.

We're in Your Corner

At The Fight Life Ministries, we're here for you in and out of the cage, no matter the season or fight. Get connected with us here on our website, or any of our social media feeds. We want to help you find a community, a home church, and other believers to walk with you! Whatever we can to support you in grace-filled victory, please let us know.

We love you. We're in your corner. Keep fighting the good fight. Remember, Jesus has already won the ultimate one.

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Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB®), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (www.Lockman.org) (www.Lockman.org)