BiblicalInsights.net

     Would you pay 1.7 million dollars for a penny?  Well, you might if it was rare enough.  What if it was the only penny of its kind known to be in existence?  In September, 2010, Bob R. Simpson (founder of XTO Energy, based in Fort Worth, Texas leader in producing natural gas) purchased a 1943-D Lincoln cent mistakenly struck in bronze for 1.7 million dollars–a record.  It is graded: PCGS Secure Plus, MS-64 brown.  The purchase enabled Simpson to complete the 1943 set he had begun to assemble six years ago.  He now owns the only 1943 PDS set in bronze known to be in existence.  These coins are known as off-metal coins because they are made from bronze-planchets instead of copper. (Coin World, Jan. 3, 2011, p. 20).
     It is certainly no surprise to learn that these coins have been faked by many people throughout the years.  A fraudulent coin, however, is worthless. 
     A one-of-a-kind find such as this certainly affected the price or value of the coin.  It is special, unique and worth more because of it.  Consider the following Scriptural thoughts:  “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:3-6).  Paul gives us a collection of one-of-a-kind entities.  The one body is the church of Christ.  In Eph. 1:22-23, Paul uses the words “body” and “church” interchangeably.  In Matthew 13, Jesus relates two parables that emphasize the value of the kingdom of God.  The first is the Parable of the Hid Treasure.  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matt. 13:44).  The second is the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price.  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matt. 13:45-46).  The value of the kingdom  of God (the church of Christ) is so great that it is worth sacrificing all to obtain it. 
     There is one Spirit.  This is a reference to the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the third person of the godhead.  His value is self-evident.  His worth to mankind is priceless.
     There is one hope.  This hope is everlasting life.  Everlasting life comes through Jesus Christ (John 3:16; I John 5:11-12).  “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”  Eternal life is the gift of God.  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
    There is one Lord.  Paul is referring to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus is our savior and redeemer.  He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).  He is the only way to the Father!  His value is unspeakable (II Cor. 9:15).  He is a gift from God.
     There is one faith.  The one faith is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Paul speaks of the objective faith which is the Word of God.  How valuable is the truth?  Priceless.  “Buy the truth and sell it not” (Proverbs 23:23).
     There is one baptism.  The baptism of which Paul speaks is the “new birth” (John 3:3-5).  “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”  The force of the word “except” is “if and only if.”  Baptism into Christ for remission of sins is essential to salvation (Gal. 3:26-27, Rom. 6:3-4; Acts 2:38).  Baptism results in sonship and salvation–priceless!
     There is one God.  This is the absolute, supreme Being. 
     Any one of these seven entities would exceed the value of the entire world.  All of them together constitute an inestimable spiritual treasure which is freely accessed by men through love for God and faith in God.  Yet, many rob themselves by rejecting these treasures.
     Fakes of any of these spiritual entities prove worthless.  A fake God is a false god and pure vanity.  A pseudo religious book will not take anyone to heaven.  There are many “lords” and “saviors” claimed by men but only one that is genuine as affirmed by Paul.  Many deny that there is only one church.  All but the true church are fakes to be discarded as worthless. 
     There is one God who has revealed His truth that salvation is only through His Son-Jesus Christ.  Faith in His name and baptism into His name will bring salvation and hope of eternal life.

     Intellectual autonomy is the view that human beings have the right to seek knowledge of God’s world without being subject to God’s Word.  In Gen. 3, the biblical account of the fall records Adam and Eve’s decision to disobey God’s personal word to them.  In their decision, they affirm their right to think autonomously, even to the point of contradicting God Himself.  In doing so, they accept irrationality.  To believe a lie is to reject the truth.  To reject the truth is irrational.  Every sinful decision results from the spirit of autonomy (self-rule) rather than God’s rule in the human heart.  Knowledge of God is suppressed by man in order for him to pursue his own desires.
     In James 4:6-7, James declares, “Submit yourselves to God…”  God has absolute authority over man.  He is our creator, redeemer and judge.  God conquers the human heart through love (John 3:16).  “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:8-10).  We love him because he first love us (I John 4:19).  Conquered by love, the human heart unconditionally surrenders to God.  “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). 
     To be fully surrendered to God means that our will becomes one with the divine will.  Surrender means “to yield (something) to the possession or power of another; deliver up possession of on demand or under duress.”  Synonyms of the word surrender include: condede, give in, hand over, relinquish, renounce, submit and yield.  Submission to God is easy when the heart is vanquished by His love. 
     The surrender involved is voluntary.  Surrender involves a voluntary placing of ourselves under God’s authority.  We face two alternatives.  The first alternative is God’s wrath.  God resisteth the proud.  God sets Himself in battle array against the proud and arrogant person who resists His will.  The second alternative is God’s mercy.  God giveth grace to the humble.  God’s grace is unmerited, divine favor, freely bestowed for the salvation of men’s souls.  If the human heart is not conquered by divine love and tastes of His divine mercy, then it will face the divine wrath of God.  Both God’s wrath and His mercy argue for surrender.  
     Consider the following thoughts:
     “Lord, thou hast won, at length I yield,
     My heart, by mighty grace compell’d,
     Surrenders all to thee;
     Against Thy terrors long I strove,
     But who can stand against thy love?
     Love conquers even me.”

     God’s love demands absolute surrender because it demands fullness of consecration to God.  Rom. 12:1,2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of  your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”   If the surrender is not complete, then, the devotion will not be complete.  Surrender demands that the spirit of autonomy be vanquished.  Absolute surrender is a condition of fellowship with God.

     One of the best books that I have read in 2010 is Tommy Newberry’s book, titled, The 4:8 Principle.  Newberry develops the book on Philippians 4:8 where Paul writes, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  Newberry focuses on the power of the mind to impact one’s joy and peace.  He gives seven strategies for a healthy mind.  Are you willing to junk-proof your mental environment?  Follow these strategies.
     1.  Focus on right relationships.  In life, it is far easier to be pulled down than lifted up.  Are you being shaped by the right people?  Do the people around you settle for good enough or challenge you to stretch and grow?  Negative people poison your outlook, exhaust your energy, chip away at your potential for joy (p. 151).  If you associate with people who constantly whine, complain, condemn, and commiserate, then, the inescapable fact is sooner or later you will resemble them.  Form relationships with people who can help build you up and challenge you to grow.
     2.  Memorize Scripture.  Newberry states, “Your conscious mind can hold only one thought at a  time, positive or negative.  The only way to eliminate a negative or counter productive thought is to replace it with a positive, empowering thought” (p. 155).  Learn a new passage of Scripture every week.
     3.  Personalize Bible Passages.  Some to consider:  John 10:10, 2 Tim. 1:7, Psa. 46:1 and Rom. 12:2.
     4.  Affirm God’s Goodness.  To affirm God’s goodness means to declare with conviction the goodness, abundance, and joy God has promised and provided.  Positive self-talk and positive prayer help build good mental health.  Focus on what God is doing right now.  Remember what God has done.  Replace negative self-talk with positive self-talk. 
     5.  Visualize God’s blessings.  Picture what God wants you to become.  A clear vision for the future is a key prerequisite for reaching your full potential here on earth.  Spiritual success is not an accident.
     6.  Quarantine Negativity.  Schedule your negativity (p. 164).  It takes all of the fun out of being negative.   You weaken the emotional energy it contains.  You are better prepared to deal with it.  The problem often shrinks.  You safe guard a much larger block of time that is free to focus on positive things. Schedule a worry time, say Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.  Any time you have a worry thought, write it down and address it only during your worry time.  Schedule “issue time.”  Deal with issues during this time only.  Do negativity by appointment only.
     7.  Establish Some Ground Rules.  The ground rules revolve around the principle of input/output.  Be aware of your environment.  Closely observe your associations.  When you say yes to the wrong inputs, you are, by default, saying no to the right inputs.  The opposite of this is also true.  All inputs contribute to who you become as a person.  Over time, you will draw into your life the conditions, events, people, and possibilities that correspond to your thinking.
     A healthy mind serves up thoughts that release your full potential.  A healthy mind keeps your attention on your intention.  A healthy mind produces joy like a healthy body produces energy.  A healthy mind agrees with God’s precepts and promises.  A healthy mind craves direction, growth, and challenge (pp. 147-148).  
     Remember the proverb, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Prov. 23:7).