Up is Down

The Way Up is Down:
Hope for the Lost Sheep

Scripture: Luke 15:1–7

Let’s be honest: life gets dark sometimes.

There comes a point for many when they realize they’ve taken a wrong turn. Maybe it’s been a slow drift, one compromise at a time, or maybe it was one sharp decision that unraveled everything. But they look around and see what they’ve become. The joy is gone. The peace is missing. Life feels like it’s slipping away.

And what do we often reach for in those moments?
Drugs, alcohol, sex, distractions, temporary painkillers for a deeper wound.
We start descending into a kind of Hell, not some far-off, fiery place, but a personal one. A Hell of shame, addiction, broken relationships, emptiness. The lights go out in the soul, and soon after, even the body starts to give up.

But here’s the thing: even in the deepest pit, there’s still hope.

Main Message:

Jesus once told a story.
It wasn't complicated. It didn’t have big theology or difficult words.
It was about a shepherd… and a sheep.

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.
Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” (Luke 15:4)

Now, let’s pause there.

This story isn’t just about livestock.
It’s about God’s heart.

It's about you, if you’ve ever felt too far gone.
It’s about the moment you wake up and realize: “I’m lost. I’m stuck. I don’t even know how to come back.”

And what does the shepherd do?
He goes after the lost one.

Not with a lecture.
Not with shame.
Not with a wagging finger.
But with open arms and JOY.

The Way to Heaven… Through Hell?

Here’s a crazy thought:
Sometimes, the way to Heaven is through Hell.
Not around it.
Not by pretending it’s not real.
But by digging, praying, meditating, pushing through rock bottom until you break through into the grace of God.

Because God is not afraid of your darkness.
He doesn’t avoid it.
He walks right into it to find you.

You may be done with you… but God isn’t.

Joy in the Rescue:

Look what Jesus says next:

“And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.
Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’” (Luke 15:5–6)

That’s not a rebuke.
That’s not a guilt trip.
That’s a celebration.

You don’t crawl back to God.
He comes running for you.
And when you finally let yourself be found, Heaven throws a party.

Application:

So, if you're sitting here today and feeling like that lost sheep…

Maybe you’ve gone too far.
Maybe you've done too much.
Maybe you think there’s no way back.

I want you to hear me clearly:
There is a way. And it's not up. It’s down.

Get honest. Get low.
Cry out. Dig deep.
You might just find that Heaven is at the bottom of your Hell.

And when you do—when you let yourself be found, you’ll hear the whisper of the Shepherd:

“I never gave up on you.”

Closing:

Let’s stop running.
Let’s stop numbing.
Let’s stop pretending we’re okay when we’re not.

The Shepherd is calling.
You don’t have to clean yourself up first.
You just have to let Him find you.

Because in the kingdom of God, the lost aren’t left behind.
They’re pursued, rescued, and rejoiced over.

Amen.