[179]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – LOST THREE THINGS - LOST ONE COIN
In this trilogy of poems we are looking at three objects lost – a sheep, a coin and a son. All three were loved and precious and the owners knew stress at the lost. When each was found it resulted in great rejoicing.
These three poems have a descending “number of precious loved things”. In the sheep it was 100; in the coin it is 10; in the son it is one. There is meaning in that but I leave it to you to think about.
I have constructed a story for this poem of the coin but it keeps true to all the Lord said about it.
For most people, just misplacing or losing a coin means very little but this woman had little (I assume) and the loss of one coin was a great loss.
I once had a bottle of one and two dollar coins in my car for emergency when I was searching along the edge of a road for fungi to photograph and I was not far from the car. However a group of bicycles used that rainforest road and cunningly one of them managed to steal my coins. That was a loss for me as it was about $160-200. It will not bring any profit to the thief for God knows what bad things are done to his children.
The closer to the heart a matter is, the more precious that matter is. We live in a changing world and I did a search in a search engine (duck duck go) and now AI is answering some of the requests! I asked for a verse about the heart of God and it gave this – [[“One verse that speaks about the heart of God is Genesis 6:6, which states that God was grieved because of man's wickedness. This reflects God's emotional connection and concern for humanity.”]]
This is that verse – {{Genesis 6:6 “and the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart”}}. God was grieved in His heart and gave 120 years of preaching for people to repent but none did! The heart of God yearns over mankind that is lost. That is one reason Jesus came into the world so seek and save all those who were lost. Each one was like a special coin that got lost.
God’s deep emotions are expressed in this verse – {{Hosea 11:8 “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? MY HEART IS TURNED OVER WITHIN ME. All My compassions are kindled.”}}. God’s heart is upset over that which is lost. I have a message on this matter of God’s heart at Calvary –
https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/how-can-i-give-you-up-o-my-son-there-is-no-other-way-easter-message-ron-ferguson-sermon-on-easter-267761
I hope you enjoy this poem and see the message in it. Here is the Gospel account of the last coin:-
{{Luke 15:8-10 “What woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it, and when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.’ In the same way, I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”}}
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LOST THREE THINGS
[
B] LOST - ONE COIN LOST
A woman owned a few small coins,
But precious were they all to her.
At last a tenth, the others joins;
Ten silver coins she’d not transfer.
A work fulfilled, they represent,
That she will ever keep complete.
That box of coins will not be spent,
But would be cleaned, and safe and neat.
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No banks they had in those old days,
So in her house the box remained;
But tucked away from people’s gaze,
For precious were the coins contained.
Perhaps the value of that set
Was not particularly high,
But what an effort spent to get
Those coins, to build up that supply.
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But one day when the box was moved,
She bumped it on a corner beam;
Upset its contents and they rolled
Across the floor in silver gleam.
From wall to wall they twitched about,
And settled down, each in its spot.
Quick as a flash without a doubt,
She scurried ‘round to find the lot.
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There’s one, and two, and three, and four . . .
Her total moved towards the ten.
Now seven, eight, and nine - one more
To complement the rest just then.
Each coin when found, was cleaned and placed
Back in the box, so carefully.
Nine silver drachmas that box graced;
The tenth desired eagerly.
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Now more concerned, she harder scanned
To try to catch a silver gleam.
She groped around with outstretched hand,
And hoped that this was but a dream.
A fruitless search was her reward,
So with determination strong,
A lighted lamp would search each board,
And every edge she’d go along.
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The flame did flicker ‘round the place,
As careful search was being made;
And resolution stamped her face,
While seeking out that coin waylaid.
She moved the mats and chairs as well,
And searched around each holding pot.
The hiding place - Oh! who could tell
Precisely of that special spot?
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But when the coin was not revealed,
She takes the broom to sweep the house,
For she would find that coin concealed.
Her eyes intent as of a mouse,
She works so systematically -
One section done, and then the next;
Approached it all pragmatically.
Through one lost coin, she now was vexed.
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But perseverance won the day,
And from one corner of the room,
Behind a small dark pot of clay,
The coin was dislodged by the broom.
She calls her friends and neighbours near,
“Rejoice with me for I have found
The coin once lost, and have it here.
Rejoice and let our thanks abound!”
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One sheep was lost and one coin too -
Restored, when found, to life anew.
‘Tis God who searches - this is true!
The items lost could well be you.
What joy in heav’n when one repents;
Before the angels, joy immense;
When sinners move across sin’s fence;
New life with Christ they do commence.
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15 - 17 July 1998 Ronald Ferguson 8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8. Rhyme is A-B-A-B-C-D-C-D except the last stanza where it is A-A-A-A-B-B-B-B