Let's Talk About the Nine

Luke 17:17

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

As Jesus passed through Samaria and Galilee, he encountered ten men who were lepers. Leprosy was a deadly disease, which was actually a death sentence in these days. If you had leprosy, you knew that it was just a matter of time before the leprosy rotted your body away until you died. However, when Jesus passed by these ten lepers, he said to them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. As these lepers went, all ten of them were cleansed; however, only one returned to Christ to thank Him for healing him of this dreaded disease. When only one returned to give glory to Christ and to thank Him, Jesus asked, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

This story illustrates soul winning and its results. If you are a soul winner, you know that you can lead many to Christ, but only a few seem to come to church and get baptized, and fewer seem to follow the Lord in service. The critics of soul winning often say that all these people are not truly saved, for if they were truly saved, they would get baptized and serve the Lord. Let me talk with you about the nine.

First, Jesus made it clear that all ten lepers got healed. Just because they did not return to give glory to God and thank Him did not mean they were not healed. Likewise, just because a person does not come to church, get baptized, and become an active member in the church does not mean they did not get saved. Salvation has nothing to do with baptism or church attendance. Salvation happens because a lost person realizes they are a sinner in need of a Saviour, and they put their faith in Christ and His payment on the cross to be the payment for their sins. The moment a person puts their faith in Christ’s payment, they are saved. It does not matter if a person comes to church or not, they are saved and will not spend an eternity in Hell because they got saved.

Second, we don't know where the nine went. Throughout the years of soul winning, I have come across people years later who never came to church, but are now in a different church serving God. Oh, I wish they would have come to my church, but the fact that they are now attending a good church is good. You don't know where all the ones you lead to Christ have gone, but you can be assured that they are saved if they put their trust in Christ to be their Saviour.

Third, your rewards for the nine will be rewarded in Heaven. God still used you to lead these nine to Christ; therefore, the soul winner’s reward will still be yours for those nine that you never see again on this earth. My friend, you may not see the nine you led to Christ on this earth again, but you can be assured you will see them in Heaven.

Fourth, don't let the nine be your focus, but enjoy the one that does return. Here is where you can keep your soul winning fire burning. By nature, it is easy to focus on the nine, but you must keep your focus on the one who does come to church, gets baptized, and serves the Lord if you want to keep your soul winning fire burning. If all I have to do to get one to church is to lead ten people to Christ, then I know I must stay busy reaching the ten so I can get the one to church. Remember that your soul winning efforts are no different from Christ’s if you get one out of ten that you lead to Christ in church.