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Today I'd like to talk about three common errors you can find in coins; Double Die Errors, Off Center Errors and Lamination Errors.

Double Die Perhaps the most famous error coin in our nation's history is the 1955 Lincoln penny double die. If you look at one of these pennies you might think you're seeing double. In fact, the date and legend on these pennies ARE doubled. If you have one of these coins and it is in mint condition it is worth over $10,000.00!!! That sure isn't chump change! This error can occur for a number of reasons when the machinery in the press is not working properly. The same thing happens to Christians when the machinery of faith is not working properly. How many of you have known Christians that are always going up to the altar and accepting Christ over and over again? Now, it's ok to rededicate your life to Christ when the need arises. But, there is something blurry about a person that responds to an altar call EVERY Sunday. It's kind of insane. It's like they're afraid God didn't hear them the first time. Is that crazy or what?

2 Timothy 1:7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. It has been said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Sometimes we need to do things differently if we expect change. Is there something in your Christian walk that you're doing over and over again and it just doesn't seem to be working? Then try to do it differently. Talk to your pastor. Get an accountability partner. Join a Bible Study Group. Read your Bible. Pray out loud. But, if what you are doing isn't working then it's time to do something different. Don't let your Christian walk get blurry!

Off Center Errors These errors occur when the metal sheet that the coin is made from doesn't enter the press correctly. It goes into the machine crooked. As a result the coins come out off center or oblong. Part of the image will be on the coin and part of it will be missing. Jesus referred to this kind of problem when he criticized the scribes and the Pharisees for being too religious. In Matthew 23:23 of the Contemporary English Version, Jesus says You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your garden, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Yet you neglect the more important matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the important things you should have done, though you should not have left the others undone either.

Many times the same thing happens to Christians today. They don't enter the press of faith correctly and they come out off-center. They sound a little like they know what they're talking about, but something is missing. They are either too religious and legalistic, or they are too spiritual and can't keep their feet on solid ground. They just aren't balanced. How many of you know Christians that are off center? Jesus said that any many who sets his hand to the plow looks back that he is not worthy of the Kingdom. In the same way if we keep looking back as we proceed down this road of faith, we are going to end up veering off center. The Apostle Paul said he kept his eyes on the prize... Jesus! If we don't want to become off-centered then we need to keep our eyes on Christ, not on people, money, power or prestige.

Lamination Errors A Lamination error occurs in a coin when a foreign substance, such as gas or dirt, becomes trapped in a strip of metal as it is rolled out to the proper thickness. When the metal is impressed with the image of the coin the bubble of gas can explode leaving a gash on the coin. If there is dirt it will be exposed. When we enter the press of faith any impurities that linger within our hearts will be exposed. Sometimes these impurities are exposed with explosive events in our lives like divorce, debt or jail. Sometimes they appear as a glaring blemish in our character. If we as Christians are to avoid the Lamination error then we must strive to have pure hearts.

Psalm 24:3-5 3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?

And who may stand in His holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood

And has not sworn deceitfully.

5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD

And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

I want to ask you to look at some change. Take the change out of your pockets and out of your purses. If you don't have any change on you got get some. I want you to look carefully at your change for a moment. Some of it is shiny and some of it is tarnished. Some is new and some of it is old. Some of it is dirty and some of it is sparkling clean. In Exodus 19:5 the Lord our God said, Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession .

The Lord treasures you and me. Each one of us is precious to him and of great value. We are like coins in his hands. Some of us are tarnished, some of us have errors, some of us shine, some of us are new and some of us are old. Some of us may even seem to have fallen to the ground and been lost. But, no matter what condition we are in today we are of infinite value to the Lord. So much so, that Jesus was willing to die on the cross to present us as brilliant and sparkling clean before the throne of God. It's his love that overlooks our errors. It is his blood that takes away our stains. And it is his heart that finds us so beautiful and valuable and precious that he calls us his treasure.

Note: The author gives his permission and encourages others to copy or use this sermon in any way that brings glory to God.