“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” Galatians 6:15
Dear Ones:
Many are the illustrations in the Word of God, which explain the basic issues of life and eternity. The Lord Himself would take the common, ordinary objects, practices, and cultural conditions of His day, to bring to light the meanings of the truth, as they apply to man and his existence. The use of coins, as an illustration, speaks of worth, responsibility, and even the issue of man’s choice. If we take a coin in our hands, and look at it closely, we see that on its two sides, are illustrated differing thoughts of life, authority, and means of living, at the time the coin’s making. That which is written, or engraved on the two sides, declared not only the worth of the coin, but revealed the distinguishing marks that set it apart from all other coins. So, let us take a coin, and using the truths of Scripture, discover the two sides of life, and existence.
Let’s begin with wineskins and clothing. Jesus used the illustration of both to depict differing aspects of life, especially, pertaining to the “old” as opposed to the “new.” Old wineskins are incompatible with new wine, as old clothing is incompatible with new cloth. And so are the two sides of the “coin of life.” The two sides represent two entirely systems of thought, laws for living, expectations, and basic means to exist. The Bible is very clear about these two sides of existence. We are confronted with the reality of these sides every day when we see the stark difference between life and death. Of course, the Lord Jesus takes us further than the physical realm, by speaking of a narrow gate and way that leads to Life, as opposed to the wide gate and broad way, that most folk take in life, leading to death. This theme, and difference, is carried on, and expounded upon in the Gospels, to the point that there is no escaping its meaning. Throughout the gospels, and into the epistles, the two sides of the coin are increasingly expounded upon. Why? With the knowledge of the truth, as it is in Christ, comes the grace of God to respond in a right manner to that truth. In doing so, there is the escaping of the consequences of sin and death, to enter into that which is of Righteousness and Life.
One side of this “coin” of which we speak represents all that is true of fallen man, sinful man, not only with regard to life on this earth, but also after death. The other side of the coin speaks of all that is true of the believer IN Christ, with regard to present blessings, hope, resources, motives and means of living on this earth. It also speaks of that which is eternally true, that which shall not be lost, taken away from him or her, and the certainty of the unchanging experience of the love of Christ.
Zaccheus was a very short man in stature, but he was “the chief among the publicans,” and he was rich. Desiring to see Jesus, he had to climb a sycomore tree. Jesus, knowing who Zeccheus was, told him that He was to come and dine in his house. Something in the demeanor and words of Christ convinced Zaccheus that Jesus was truly the Christ, the Savior of the world. The result was that Zeccheus was convinced, and convicted of his sins before God, resulting in him turning to Christ from them. It is then that Jesus would declare: “This day is salvation come to this house…” (Luke 19:9) That day Zeccheus went from one side of the coin of life, the side which represented sin and death, to the other side, which declared his entry into the kingdom of God, and Life eternal. It was an eternal change, one that could not be undone. And though there would certainly be some failures and sins, yet, the anchor which had been cast, found its eternal resting place in the bedrock of Christ.
Dear Father, Give us grace to LIVE by Thy word, on Life’s side of the coin. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad