March 3, 2021

“A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing”; Oscar Wilde
I have a store that buys and sells collectible coins and currency as well as gold and silver. You would be surprised how often we’ll get a phone call asking the value of “a penny from 1943 or 1944”. We will routinely say, “We sell the 1943 steel cents for around 10 to 15 cents each and the copper 1944 for around 4 cents each in average condition”. Funny thing is the caller will often try to debate us that they looked the price up on the internet and found they were thousands of dollars each and they have some. The caller doesn’t realize that the prices listed are for rare errors that were made from the wrong metal during those WW2 war years). This is when we say, “Well you can purchase ours (which we currently have an estimated 5-6 thousand in stock) for 15 cents each and even cheaper in quantities”. The thing is in 40 years of being in business, we’ve had hundreds, but they are all the cheap copper-plated 1943’s or silver-plated 1944’s. By the way, rarely do those that call up come in and buy ours.

We are currently in the Lentin season. The time prior to the Passion, Crucifixion and Death of our Lord Jesus. We know that Easter Sunday is coming – Praise God! Many people think that because our salvation is free, it didn’t cost anything. But let’s not forget our salvation that is absolutely free to us was paid for by someone else. And that payment wasn’t free or inexpensive. It was paid for – IN FULL- by the death of God’s own son!

Jesus paid it all! All to Him I owe! Sin had left a crimson stain – HE washed it white as snow!

16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18

Please don’t miss verse 18! I think we get used to rattling off John 3:16 because we know it so well, but just because He died for the whole world, it doesn’t say the whole world will be saved. John 3:18 again - 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

What’s it cost? Not a thing for you and me. Acts 16 says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”
What’s it worth? It makes a world of difference for all eternity!

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matt 16:26

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul!