LOST IN THE HOUSE

This morning, our Pastor mentioned the Parable of the Lost Coin in Luke 15.  What strikes me in this parable is that the coin wasn’t spent foolishly or dropped on the way to an exciting adventure; no, the coin was lost inside the house.  Perhaps it had gotten buried under a stack of paper or had been carelessly swept off the table.  How long did it take before the owner realized it was missing?  The passage didn’t say but we do know that as soon as she realized it had fallen by the wayside, she made every effort to find it and lovingly restore it to its place beside the other coins.

Every Sunday Morning, we enter the church to worship with our brothers and sisters.  How many Sundays pass before we notice that one of the shining “coins” are missing?  Oh they may be sitting right beside you, they may go through the familiar motions and say all the right words at the appropriate times but if you look closely, you will notice, the “coin” is lost inside the house.

Perhaps they became “lost” under a “stack of life” or perhaps a careless word or action swept them away.  Whatever the reason, the “coins” are too valuable to shrug your shoulders or just replace with another shiny coin.  We have to learn to look behind the façade of manufactured smiles and perfect words and see the lonely soul that has become lost in the house.  Once we realize a coin is missing, I pray that the Body of Christ will, as the woman in Luke 15, light a lamp and sweep the house, searching with care until the “lost coin” is found and restored to its rightful place.

The Parable doesn’t end once the coin is found, however, Luke 15:9, And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!  As the church body begins to discover the “Coins” that have been lost in the house, we will begin to hear the sounds of rejoicing from earth and Heaven reach a resounding crescendo.  Luke 15:19, Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

It is time to light a lamp, get out our brooms and start sweeping.  There are precious coins that have been “LOST IN THE HOUSE” for too long.  Let the Sound of Rejoicing begin.