Sunday service, Erlo Stegen, 19 Jun 2016
Luke 15:8-10
8 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? note
9 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.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
The lost coin represents us sinners who are lost, and dying. It also shows the extent Jesus goes to to seek us sinners. The publicans, the tax collectors, and the sinners, went to hear Jesus preach. The Jews despised the publicans, because they were collecting taxes for the Roman government.
But amazingly Jesus sought out these very people. Jesus clearly said that He has come to save sinners (Luke 5:32). When they gathered around Jesus the religious establishment was offended. Jesus loved these sinners and taught them the way to God.
The religious establishment decided Jesus cannot be a good person when He associates with such people. But Jesus drew them to Him. He drew the lost, the defiled. He drew them to take them from the miry clay.
In the same chapter there are four illustrations to show the love of Jesus for them.
This woman lost just one silver coin, but she didn’t say that it doesn’t matter. She searched for it until she found it. Many homes in that era didn’t have windows and were dark inside. Jesus used this very illustration, like with the prodigal son, to show the importance each person has in the sight of God, no matter how defiled he or she might be. To God you are of great value.
Why was this coin of such value? Why did she spend so much time and energy to find it? This woman had only 10 coins indicating that she was poor. Like we have a wedding ring, at that time they would use a string of coins. With her 10 coins she was telling everyone she was already married. But a missing coin symbolised that she was cheap, an adulterer. These coins were also symbolic of the glory of a bride and losing one would show that the glory had been damaged, she was no longer complete in her marriage. That is why this single coin was so important to her.
This also shows to us the great importance for us believers not to lose God’s glory in our life, otherwise we’re cheap, living in sin. When God’s glory is departed from your life, then instead of God’s glory it’s your own ego on display. How sad if instead of God’s glory it’s the glory of the devil on display in your life.
Adam and Eve had intimate fellowship with God but when they sinned they lost God’s glory. They lost their beautiful fellowship with God. When they sinned they realised that they were naked. When you sin you lose God’s glory.
This woman realised the seriousness of losing her coin.
If we are saved and have met with Jesus Christ and are born again by the grace of God and have received His Holy Spirit, God’s glory is manifested in our life.
When the first witch got converted during the early days of the revival, she acknowledged that she was bound by the chains of hell. Her face was dark and the wickedness of satan was on her face. But when she repented and was prayed for her face changed and she looked like someone who had walked in the presence of God for years.
The moment this woman realised she had lost her coin and her glory therewith she immediately sought for it with all her heart until she found it.
A lost coin is of no value. It’s worthless. You cannot buy anything with it.
You might be talented and have even reached important milestones in your life, but without the wisdom of heaven it’s useless. A person who has lost the heavenly ring has lost heaven’s imprint. If not you will see the imprint of satan.
When we are saved we receive heaven’s imprint. But if we lose it we are lost.
Music:
KwaSizabantu Choir: FROM THE DAWN
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KwaSizabantu Choir: BAPHUMA ABASHUMAYELI
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