"We are Worth Christ but act like the world"

What Are You Worth?

My hero, mentor & friend –Evangelist Tim Lee shared a story that I heard over 15 years ago and it is as applicable today as it was then. In May 2009, I had the pleasure to preach chapel at Southern Maryland Christian Academy in White Plains, MD. For every year (since 1996), I have spoken twice per year (Fall & Spring) to their school and last year had the high honor to give their graduation speech. Honestly, after a group has heard over 30 of your messages even “Mother Goose” can run low on stories.

The night before my message, God reminded me of something Dr Tim Lee said and I tweaked it and talked about “value” and Honoring Christ with our life and lips. In each pocket, I had two coins. Without games or gimmicks, I grabbed them both out of pockets in unison during my remarks and lifted them high into the air and asked without hesitation to the student body: “Friends, this is not rocket science – What do I have in my hands?” The entire school screamed: “TWO QUARTERS!”

I shared with them to their surprise: “Wrong.” In my left hand was a quarter but in my right hand I held a Silver Dollar. From there, faster than a Ferrari with no brakes I shared with them that in 1978, President Jimmy Carter issued the Department of Treasury & U.S. Mint to come out with a Silver Dollar honoring the first woman to be on a coin. Susan B. Anthony became a household name and she appeared on count-less coins.

Less than three years in circulation, the government ceased making those same coins. Why? It was “worth a dollar” but it resembled, felt like and acted like it was worth only a quarter. Even as a teen, I recall putting a Silver Dollar in the Coca-Cola machine (when they were 50 cents) and expected to get two quarters in change. However, the vending machine acted like I needed to add another quarter. Why? Because despite its dollar value it read it as worth only a quarter.

Friends, for those that have bowed the knee, confessed your sins and accepted Christ as your Savior, Sacrifice and Substitute on Calvary’s cruel cross – we are blood bought, heirs of Heaven and kids of the King. No question. However, the problem is when we laugh at off color comments, fudge on our finances, slander our friends in the back, sleep around to climb the corporate ladder, look out for Number One opposed to Jesus – the only One worthy of our worship; we are worth Christ but act like the world.

As a teen, I thought the difference between a quarter and Silver Dollar was only 75 cents. Today, it is much greater. “Life and Death” hangs in the balance and Lord knows, I have failed many times but am trying to emulate and imitate Christ with my life like never before. My prayer is that you will join me because we bear “His” Name as Christians’ and are held at a higher standard. Never again, would I want to lead someone astray by not aligning my life with the Lord’s. People are watching and we better be walking right or friends can be “LEFT” behind.

The fact is that a “lost” and dying world (like cashiers and Coca-Cola machines) often cannot tell the difference by the way we walk and talk. How tragic – how true. May this simple but powerful illustration remind us all that we are Amabassadors of the Almighty broadcasting as born-again billboards to those on our block that Jesus is the “Way” to live. The “Truth” that commands an honorable conduct and the only “Life” worth following. Child of God – “you have been bought with a price and go glorify God.”

In closing, live in such a way that mankind makes no mistake of Who’s you are and where you are going. God bless you and go with God.