A GENTLE
SPIRIT
Pastor Jeanne Stewart, Oklahoma
Secret of Loss
The
secret of the woman’s worth seemed enclosed within a ten piece garland she wore
about her neck. Each section of the garland contained within itself a separate
silver drachma coin that had been prepared specifically by her husband. The
entire garland, along with the coins, represented redemption through the
marriage covenant. She admired it daily, holding it tenderly as she often
considered its meaning. It was no mere piece of jewelry – it represented her
very identity. An astute observer, then, might imagine her feelings of shock
and dismay when one morning she noticed something terribly wrong; one of
the silver drachmas was … missing!
Emotionally
and hastily, the woman lights a lamp and sweeps through the house, searching
carefully for the one precious coin that was missing from the other nine. It
had to be somewhere within the solitary few rooms of their simple home. The
cherished lost silver coin had to be found. This one lost coin indicated her
virtuous promise of a future and a hope that could not be realized without the
other nine to complete the garland.
When
the search ends she finds her precious missing coin, and calls her friends
together, saying, ‘rejoice with me for I
have found the piece which I lost!’ (Luke 15:9)
Parables of Loss
Let
us ponder for a moment the parables of Jesus in Luke chapter 15. Linking the
three stories together, Jesus teaches us regarding a lost sheep, a lost coin,
and the lost son of a wealthy father. Seated among complaining legalistic
Pharisees that day, we see Jesus surrounded by an interesting mixture of dinner
guests consisting of tax collectors and sinners.
The
focus is on Jesus. He begins His three separate stories, all the while
encircling a priceless secret of loss within each parable, tying one to the
other. He speaks of a lost sheep that seemingly just lies down helplessly and
refuses to budge until found. Jesus then tells the story of a valuable coin
nowhere to be found requiring an intense search of the woman’s house. Jesus
ends with the third parable that stings like fire the hearts of some of these
self-righteous religious folk. They listen judgmentally at the wealthy father’s
reception of his wayward son. A penitent sinner pleases God more than a
ceremonially correct Pharisee? This message puzzles their legalistic minds. How
could one who was like dead become alive again through genuine repentance and
be given back his heritage?
Each
of these parables starts with tragic circumstances. But with the right kind of
intervention, they show us that loss can be turned into gain and rejoicing into
joy, especially with eternity in view.
Eternities Wisdom is IN HIS Life
“Be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love … have complete
confidence … understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ Himself ... in
Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3)
We
can no longer view our life on earth only with its singular beginning birth
through its ending death. No longer can we view our life by the length of days with
a means of earning a living for our possessions and provision for our family
from our labor. We must perceive our life
as eternal and be more connected to our home in Heavens Kingdom and not of this earth only. God’s plan and purpose
holds a deeper and more precious secret to come to completion than just our
life on earth.
All
stages of life are important. But in light of eternity, the most important is its end. As the
church age comes to its appointed closure, eternity nears. Christ’s return for
His Bride will move us into eternity. We must also realize earth’s wealth and
affluence cannot go with us to our heavenly home. The things of earth cannot
exist in the dwelling place of God. Only the children of His spirit will live
with Him in heaven. The important possessions of earth that the world views as
our success will not be valued in heaven as treasures. Only the works of the
spirit will hold dividends as valuable living treasure. These living treasures are the eternal souls
of those redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
Treasures in Heaven are Souls
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do
not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also.” Matthew 6:19-21)
So
the secret within is this – where is your heart? My friend, it is not how long we live our lives on earth that is important in the Kingdom of Heaven, but how we live our lives that builds dividends in the treasury of heaven. Our
rich dividends are the souls of those around us who were once lost and in need
of a Redeemer, those we influenced by our righteous walk on earth. So – how do
you live your life before others in the time you have been given on earth?
God
is concerned with even one lost person among all the nations of this world. Our
benefit of His wisdom motivates us to love His redemption and seek those that
are lost, with the truth of the gospel of Christ Jesus new birth. Those who are
legalistically self-righteous are not even aware of the lost or their need.
So I
ask you point blank – what do you see when you look at a drunk staggering, or a
homeless person filthy and sick? What do you see when you hear of a druggie
selling themselves for another fix? What about that greedy old man who curses
at you if you walk through his yard? And that well-off neighbor next door who
seems to have everything comfortable in life with a six digit paycheck? Do you
view his sinful life or his wealth? What about his eternal destination?
Do We See Their Sin or Their Need of a Redeemer?
"But this is a people robbed and plundered; all of them are snared
in holes, and they are hidden in prison houses; they are for prey, and no one
delivers; for plunder, and no one says, 'Restore!' Who among you will give ear
to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come?" (Isaiah 42:22-23)
“In truth I perceive that God
shows no partiality but in every nation whoever fears Him and works
righteousness is accepted by Him.” (Acts 10:34-35)
“For the Word of God is living
and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the
division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart. There is no creature hidden from His sight,
but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give
account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)
God
knows all about the lost. Yes, our Father God understands the emptiness of
loss. Have you ever been lost or have you ever known loss? Remember, we were
created by Him – for Him. God is
everything that is love but we do not understand His love until we accept and
know His redemptive love. Like a father that keeps pictures of his children in
his wallet, we are so important to our Father God that He has us imprinted on
the palm of His hand. (Isaiah 49:16)
Let Us Consider One Another
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He
who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up
love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is
the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see
the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25
The Day Approaching
When
Jesus left earth and ascended back to heaven He left to go and prepare a place
for us leaving us with the assignment to build His Church here on earth. So let
us be about the business of building God’s Kingdom in the way we live our lives
in righteousness on earth today, having a clearer vision of placing in heavens
retirement plan our 401(souls) security instead of the earthly 401K.
Each
one of us who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb has, hidden within
us, the influence to convey hope for those lost. Our Creator God is so
concerned with the one that is lost that all heaven rejoices with Him in their
restoration. In this lies the secret of the end that is no longer loss but a
new life eternal.
……………………………LINKS
