Title: Lost drachma / Luke 15:8-10
Contents
Everything that is not in the hands of its owner is virtually lost. Every human being who has left the hand of God is a lost existence. The reason we are unhappy, why we wander, and why our lives have lost music is simple. Because we are lost. But the gospel is that there is one who is looking for us. He is our Creator, God, our Savior, Jesus, and our guide, the Holy Spirit. In the second parable of Luke 15, the existence of man that God is looking for is compared to a lost drachma (silver coin).
* What aspects of human existence should we learn from this lost and abandoned drachma (silver coin)?
1. This silver coin was lost in the house.
2. This silver coin did not realize that it was lost.
If you listen to the stories of people suffering from the disease, there are cases in which the disease is detected early because there are symptoms of some disease. However, in some cases, there are no symptoms at all, and one day, when I realized the condition, I heard that it was already too late. The same is true of human sin. Some people live their lives knowing that they are sinners, while others live without any sense of guilt at all. In the case of the first parable in Luke 15, which includes today's text, it seems that the lost sheep was aware that it was lost to some extent. But did the lost silver coin in the second parable of the text become aware of its lost condition? Nope. Perhaps this silver coin was comfortably buried in the dust in a corner of the house. Without knowing the very fact that he was lost. So, sadly in this second story, it was the woman who was the original owner of this silver coin. Perhaps, through this story, Jesus wanted to tell us about his pity for the lost man, and the pity of God.
In another sense, this silver coin is the very existence of a sinner who is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. A sinner does not realize that he is a sinner acutely. (Although there is a superficial awareness --) When someone preaches the gospel to him and the Holy Spirit works, he can existentially to realize that he is lost because of sin. That is why the gospel must be preached face to face. That is why Paul says that those who call on Jesus as Savior will be saved, but the prerequisite for salvation to be fulfilled is this: "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? How can they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14) Therefore, we must personally share the gospel with our neighbors. Then the Holy Spirit works. When the Holy Spirit works, people realize that they are sinners, confess that Jesus is their Savior, and turn to the Lord. The existence that cannot be found without someone's touch - this is the existence of the human drachma as seen in the Bible.
3. This silver coin was in a lost state but not forgotten.
Biblical scholars argue here as to why the owner of the lost silver coin is portrayed as a woman. If it is clear that the shepherd who seeks the one lost sheep clearly represents the Son, God Jesus, the third parable of Luke 15, the father who seeks the lost son, is God the Father. Then, in the second parable, is this woman the Holy Spirit God who seeks out lost people? It might be. However, some scholars argue that it is more appropriate to view the church as the Holy Spirit rather than the Holy Spirit. Perhaps it would be better to see him as the Holy Spirit working through the church. Clearly, the Great Commission of the Church is to find lost souls. This is not an option. It is a reason for existence, not one of the functional duties of the church. What is important is whether we are doing our best on this day like the woman shown in the text. The best of our ancestors in the faith if that led you and me to experience the salvation of Jesus today, we owe their best. Now is the time when we need our best.
Perhaps one of the most respected Christian lay leaders of our time is Jimmy Carter, a Baptist deacon, former president of the United States. Years ago, Time magazine taught Jimmy Carter and introduced him as an unprecedented leader in human history who, after his resignation, is more respected than ever. He serves as an ambassador of reconciliation wherever there is conflict in the world, and he runs the Habitat project with a hammer to various countries around the world to build homes for the homeless himself. Every Sunday, he serves as a Sunday School teacher at the church, and once a month he and his wife clean the church, and carry the tract with him to share the gospel with everyone he meets. His life motto is "Why not the best?" - that's 'best'. This motto is said to have originated from the question, "Is that the result of your best efforts?" after he was interviewed for an appointment with the Admiral of the Navy after graduating from the military academy. Sweaty, he said, "Well, I can't say I did my best, of course." Then the Admiral suddenly raised his voice and said, "Why didn't you do your best?" His voice sounded like the voice of the Lord.