How do you react when you see someone who is homeless?  Do you turn away and try to ignore them?  Do you give the leftover change from your pocket?  Maybe you offer to buy them a hot meal.  There are numerous organizations and ministries that are devoted to helping those in need.  I am grateful for the ministry our local church has in feeding and clothing the community.  Each week we are helping those with physical needs and God is blessing people’s lives through it.   But my real question is,  “What do we do with the spiritual homeless?”

 

The spiritual homeless are those who may have their spiritual needs met, but their hearts are empty and bare.  They search for comfort and fulfillment, but find none.  They are spiritually hurting and desperate for hope, but they may never speak of it.  And honestly, no one speaks to them about the issue.

 

The scripture calls them “sojourners.”  A good definition would be “a wanderer without shelter.” They are searchers looking for somewhere or someone to fulfill them.  They want spiritual peace and contentment.  They want a home.

 

The Message Bible reads,  “My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off.  Go after them.  Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God” (James 5:19-20).

 

God has given us the responsibility of searching out the wanderers.  But He does not send us alone.  You and I have been given the partnership of the Holy Spirit who is constantly at work within us and through us.  We reach people as a team!  He speaks and leads; we simply are obedient.

 

With heart-felt passion, Jesus told His disciples, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).  His words still resonate in the heart of every believer today.  We must go into every man’s world and share the good news of Christ.  There is a quote which says, “We do not have a secret to be hidden, but a story to be heralded.”

 

In Kansas City there is a ministry called Healing House.  It is a home for those battling drug addiction.  It was started by a woman named Bobbie Jo. Bobbie Jo had been walking the streets for many years but then someone cared enough to share the Gospel with her and she became a follower of Christ. About the same time, her mother died and left her an inheritance. She knew that many of the women who were drug addicts turned to the streets to support their habits. Once they were arrested, put in jail and then released.  Having no place to go, most went back to working the streets.

With her inheritance, Bobbie Jo bought an old retirement home that was boarded up and remodeled it. She invited the ladies to come and live there and as they did, she would share the Gospel with them. Eventually, that home was completely filled with women getting help.

There was a home next door that was owned by a neighborhood pimp. Bobbie Jo and the women began to pray that God would give them that home.  After much prayer and by gathering some resources, they were able to purchase the house. It soon filled up and another home was purchased.  Soon they were able to buy an apartment complex!
 
At Christmas time, the women would pull together their small earnings and buy presents for those still living on the streets.  It was a reminder to that there is still hope and there is a Savior who loves you.

 

One Christmas Eve, they pulled into a gas station to fill up the house van and two police officers were there. He recognized one of the girls in the van and walked over and said to her, “What are you doing here? I thought you were dead.” He recognized another and then another and said, to all of them, “I thought you all were dead”! He called his partner over and showed him the women saying, “They’re alive!”

 

And the women truly were alive; not only physically, but spiritually as well.  Because one woman stepped out, many women have been brought home to the family of God!

 

We call Jesus’ words, “The Great Commission.” And it truly is “great.”  It is GREAT to see a broken heart healed by God’s love.  It is GREAT to see families restored by the presence and peace of the Holy Spirit.  It is GREAT to hear the words, “I once was lost…now I’m found!” How exciting it is that you and I get to partner with God in bringing the wanderers back home!

 

Remember…You Are A Champion!