I have a tendency of while walking outdoors to do so with my head inclined in a slightly downward direction – This advantages me in seeing present danger… whether the walkway is naturally surfaced or paved. Over the years this disposition has also benefitted me in salvaging coins that have been accidentally dropped or intentionally discarded because the coins were considered to be of little worth. To me, every coin has value and is worth the little effort it takes to salvage. 

Several months ago, while walking to church my eyes locked-on to what appeared to be a large bronze coloured coin, resting on a patch of dirt along the pathway. I bent down, picked it up, and placed it in my pocket with the intentions of examining it more closely after church.

Having returned home, a quick inspection of the coin had me thinking it was an old penny that had been used in circulation prior to the introduction of decimal currency in Australia (1966). Wow… an old penny… I’m rich, I thought! However, my initial excitement was quickly dashed when I had finished using a small amount of cleaning cream, brush, and ‘elbow grease’ on the surfaces of the coin… revealing a silver 20 cent coin! Disappointed? No, just surprised.

This incident reminded me that before the cleansing blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, just like the sun-baked, red dust covered, 20 cent coin, we all once had  a low-in-value appearance. Our sin covered condition had hidden our true, created value… the unblemished image of the Holy Trinity (Genesis 1:26).

Many Christians today are glad they are being saved (salvaged) but are not that keen on being cleansed (sanctified). The Lord did not salvage us that we would be happy and contented to remain as we were – sin-stained, unattractive and useless for His purposes. To remain as I was before encountering the Lord is to remain a person of little worth… devalued and discarded by the world. This old penny had once been rendered worthless through sin, but later salvaged by the Lord. This old penny continues to gladly submit to the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, and His word. This soul is no longer a low-in-value penny but has become, like other believers, a high-in-value, sparkling gem.

Friends, having been salvaged by the sacrificial giving of Jesus’ life, and being cleansed by the Holy Spirit… today, this boy is worth much more than a penny!

Best wishes
Bill Joukhadar