Is a person who turns their back on God a lost person?

That is a very awesome question! We do live in a l"ost world." People are lost because they don’t have a relationship with God. So, a person who turns his or her back on God is a lost person because they don’t have that relationship that God so desperately wants to have with them.

But, here’s the good news! In fact, it’s great news!!! God is always ready and waiting for anyone who wants to have a relationship with Him. In fact, in 2 Peter 3:9, Peter (who was one of Jesus’ original disciples) says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

We also told the parable of the Lost Sheep in class (Luke 15:1-7) where the shepherd, who has 100 sheep, loses one and goes out to find that sheep. When he finds that sheep, he celebrates even though he still had 99 sheep! Jesus tells us that God is like that shepherd in that there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

So, even a lost person, who turns his or her back on God, can come back to God and He’ll immediately accept them, love them, and rejoice in their return! We have a very big God whose love is unstoppable and He wants you to have a relationship with Him.

Remember, there is nothing you can do, nothing, that is so bad God can’t forgive it.

When I pray, does only God hear or does everyone in heaven hear?

Everyone who is in heaven is definitely in a joyful place with God, but God is the only one who can know our hearts. It is God alone who hears our prayers. God may share something great with everyone in heaven, like when heaven celebrates someone who has just given their heart to Jesus, but your prayers go just to God.

You can read about heaven’s happiness in Luke 15. Verse 7 comes at the end of the parable of the lost sheep, and verse 10 comes at the end of the parable of the lost coin. It says, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." So heaven can know about great things that happen, but when you pray to Jesus, that prayer is just for Jesus.