A
T AGE 16, if challenged to a group who enthusiastically participated
game of Bible trivia, I would in every event and fund-raiser, yet never
have emerged the victor. I truly surrendered to God. Her parents
could list all of the books of mistakenly viewed her as “saved”
the Bible, quote John 3:16, and give a because she was in the house. I have also
detailed recount of David and Goliath. seen lost coins placed into positions of
After all, I had been attending Sunday service and leadership within the Body
school since birth and had been skill- because it was assumed that they had a
fully taught the things of God. Upon relationship with God simply because
examination of my life, most adults gave they were in the house. I have seen first-
me an approving nod. I was, by their hand the danger of assuming salvation
standards, on the right track. based upon the fact that a person is in
It wasn’t until one evening in late March, church. I exhort believers to get to know
just as tiny blades of new grass began to one another, to share their salvation
poke through the winter soil, that I real- story, and to encourage others to share
ized just how dead and cold my soul had I was a lost coin. Luke 15:8-9 asks: their own.
become. Like frozen sod, resentment and “What woman, having ten silver coins, if Perhaps you have read these words
rebellion were buried deep within. Under- she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, and questioned whether you might be a
neath a grand facade lay sinful secrets sweep the house, and search carefully lost coin yourself. Like me, you have
and unearthed sorrow. I was lost! The until she finds it? And when she has heard the truth, but have you applied it
magnitude of this revelation thrust itself found it, she calls her friends and neigh- to your life? Romans 10:9 says: “If you
violently against my mind. How could bors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus
that be? Even my earliest memories for I have found the piece which I lost!’” and believe in your heart that God has
revolved around the church. Still, I had (NKJV). The coin in this passage was lost raised Him from the dead, you will be
never truly encountered Jesus. I had in the house. I believe that this scripture saved” (NKJV). Confess those words and
never experienced His saving mercy in paints a portrait of one who, although believe today—and be found.
my own life. It was on that night I con- maybe faithful in church attendance and
fessed my failures and invited Christ to religious activities, is hopelessly lost— Lydia King is a pastor’s wife
be Lord over my life. That confession even in the house of God. currently serving the congrega-
gave way to blissful sleep and has been Since the day I was found, I have run tion of River of Life Worship
followed by morning after morning of across many other lost coins. One such Center Church of God in
whispered thanks. was a beautiful young girl in my youth Malden, Missouri.
THE
Acknowledge you have sinned
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us”
KEYS TO
(1 John 1:8).* “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
ETERNAL
Believe in Jesus
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “For God so
LIFE
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
CHRIST PAID for our Confess and renounce your sin
salvation with His death
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that
on the cross, but for us
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “If we confess
to accept this gift is as our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
simple as using these
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
keys to unlock the door: *Scriptures are from the New International Version.
30 EVANGEL • FEB 2009
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