Come Home (Part Three)

Hello friend! This post is the third part in a series of posts called "Come Home" that are based on a sermon I did last month at my church. If you missed the first two parts, you can read Part One here and Part Two here.

Let's jump right into the next parable!
After the lost sheep parable in Luke 15 comes the parable of the lost coin. It is found in verses 8-10.

"Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."

This parable is so beautiful. It compares the lost, broken sinner to a piece of silver. And not just any piece of silver- this woman’s most prized possession. This lost coin was of infinite value to her. 

In a beautiful book called Christ’s Object Lessons, it says:

“The coin, though lying among dust and rubbish, is a piece of silver still. Its owner seeks it because it is of value. So every soul, however degraded by sin, is in God's sight accounted precious.”* Let’s pause for a moment right there. Friend, maybe you think that you aren’t worth anything anymore, that you have too much sin covering you, that you can’t possibly be of any use to God. This story proves that you are infinitely valuable to God. It doesn’t matter how much you have sinned, however far you have fallen, you are still loved by God. Your value doesn’t change based on what you do. Let that sink in- your value doesn’t change based on what you do! Your value is based on what God thinks of you, and God will ALWAYS love you, which means you will ALWAYS be INFINITELY PRICELESS!!!

Christ’s Object Lessons continues, “The value of a soul, who can estimate? Would you know its worth, go to Gethsemane, and there watch with Christ through those hours of anguish, when He sweat as it were great drops of blood. Look upon the Saviour uplifted on the cross. 

Hear that despairing cry, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34. Look upon the wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet. Remember that Christ risked all. For our redemption, heaven itself was imperiled. At the foot of the cross, remembering that for one sinner Christ would have laid down His life, you may estimate the value of a soul.”*

And we can say the same sentence this way:

“At the foot of the cross, remembering that for one sinner Christ would have laid down His life, you may estimate the value of YOUR soul!!”

Friends, I think all of us have believed that third statement we talked about in Part One at some time in our lives: “I’m not good enough, I’m just worthless.” But here we have proof to exactly the opposite: Just as the coin was priceless to the woman, we are priceless to God! No matter how far we may sink into the dirt of sin and despair, Jesus comes earnestly seeking us. The coin didn’t know its value, it had no idea someone was diligently searching for it. Even if you don’t feel like you are valuable, even if it seems like you’re in darkness and can’t get out, there is Someone who is searching for you. The light of His love is shining on you now. Even though you may see nothing of value in yourself, God is looking at you right now and seeing His priceless treasure. The value of an object is determined by the price paid for it, and God gave everything for you. You are of infinite worth, because He paid an infinite price for you. Nothing you could ever do can change that. 

Now we come to the final parable in Luke 15....

Which we'll save for another time! :)

Never forget, friend, how priceless and loved and valuable you are- you may feel like no one sees you or hears you, like you are all by yourself. But Jesus sees you, He hears you, and He is with you, no matter what.

God Bless,

Hope

*emphasis is added by me