There are certain occupations designed to preserve life: paramedics, EMTs, doctors, firefighters, police, and so on. I'll add another one to that list: the Christian. We are surrounded by people who need rescuing. In fact, one of our purposes on this earth is to seek out those who are wandering—to "pick up strays," if you will—and bring them home, saving their souls from death.

At the end of his epistle, James wrote, "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins" (5:19-20).

This is the picture of a person's heart drifting away, and of someone who notices and cares enough to want to rescue that person.

The question is, do we really care about such people? And if we say we do—and we should—how much do we care? You see, hate is not the opposite of love; apathy is. We should want to restore the wanderers.

In these verses, the person who cares is the agent of restoration, revival, and evangelism. The Bible says, "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18). That means bringing people back.

Now, some commentators say James was talking about the backslidden Christian who strays away from the truth, and others say it was the unsaved person who has yet to come to the truth. But we should care about both groups. Both need love, enlightenment, and forgiveness. We should look long enough to see the plight they are in, where they are going, and care about them. Don't debate where they're at theologically. Care about them practically.

Be the "someone" James talked about and follow Jesus' example. "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). Evangelism always begins with caring.

J.C. Ryle said, "The highest form of selfishness is a man who's content to go to heaven alone." Leading a person to Christ—or back to Christ—begins with loving that person in Christ.

That care starts with admonition—loving involvement in a wandering life that can lead to repentance and renewal. So, if you see something, say something. Admonish. Offer caution, lower the lifeboat, hand out the parachute.

The first practical thing to do is evaluate your own faith. Paul wrote, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith" (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Then you can encourage the faith in others. Encourage those you see making a move toward God. Admonish those you see wandering away from the faith: "I don't see you around church anymore. We would love to have you back!" When you invite an unbeliever to church and they show up, encourage that: "If you have questions, I'd love to sit down and talk to you about them."

Helping save someone from spiritual death is the greatest act of love we can offer. Whether it's helping to restore a wandering brother or sister, or evangelizing the lost to receive Christ, you are saving a soul from death.

So whether James was writing about the backslider or the unbeliever, the call is the same. Care enough to point them to Christ.