Do you collect things? Do you know others that do? I happen not to be one of those people. I just don't have the desire to collect anything and don't really see the point. I am however a pack rat. I have boxes of old cables and wires. (Because you never know when you might need one.) Boxes of pictures, tools, and childhood memories that my mom or grandma saved up and generously gave to me when I moved out on my own. ( So I could store it) One thing I received from my grandma is a coin collection. Now, it's not the kind of coin collection you might think. It really consists of a handful of silver dollars, all with my birth year on them, a couple other coins like a liberty bell piece. One interesting coin is in a package and says it's a Civil War coin. It is worn and almost smooth, so it could just be a nickle for all I know. But my favorite part of the collection is a mint condition, still in the original packaging, Egyptian coin from a Captain Crunch cereal box. Why she kept this and stored it away for me I have no idea. That's my grandma. But when I look at it, it makes me smile.
You and others you know collect things I'm sure. Many people spend huge amounts of money collecting things that don't seem worth collecting. To someone that doesn't read or like comic books, they couldn't fathom paying hundreds, thousands or even millions for one. But people do it everyday. A retried businessman spends 3 times what a car is worth to buy an old car and restore it to his high school dream car. What makes someone spend so much for something? In most cases when people collect things, whether they are inexpensive or outrageously priced, the value of the actual item has very little to do with the price paid.
You see it's not the value of the parts or sum of the item being purchased that sets the price; it's the appraised value the purchaser places on the item of interest that sets the price and ultimate value of the item.
There are three main aspects that gives the "appraised value", by the purchaser, to the item of interest.
- Emotional Connection - Often there is an emotional connection to the item. Like the retired businessman and his childhood dream car or the Captain Crunch coin my grandma saved for me. There is an emotional connection to the piece.
- Rarity - The more rare something becomes, the more unique, the more valuable it becomes. Some people that collect things like to have "one of a kinds" or "limited quantity" items. It makes it special to them and makes them feel special.
- Craftsmanship - This is especially true with high end goods. I myself am not a car guy, but I did work with one years ago. One night, on the third shift, he was looking through some magazines and started to talk about Bentleys. I had never even heard of one before. Most likely because I hadn't spend more than $2500 on a car let alone $250,000 on one. I asked him what could make a car worth that much. Apparently, these vehicles are put together by hand with a team of two master mechanics. Each part is hand selected and placed. Each bolt is hand turned and just the right amount of torque is applied. It can take up to two months to complete one car. It is as perfect a vehicle as humanly possible. That is why someone would pay $250,000 on one.
I have heard it said that Jesus dying on the Cross was the greatest over-payment of debt in History. That would be true if the payment was based on the debt of sin we had incurred. If you look at the purchase of a comic book for a $1.2 million from the perspective of the value of the paper and ink it is comprised of you'd say the same thing. That is was the most over payed for comic book in History. But the value is not based on the sum of the parts of the item of interest.
It is based on the emotional connection, rarity and craftsmanship perceived by the purchaser. You see, the price Jesus paid for you and me wasn't based on how big and bad our debt in sin was.
The payment made on the Cross was based on God's personal appraisal of your worth to Him. I can prove it.
13 For it was You who created my inward parts;
You knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You
because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know [this] very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all [my] days were written in Your book and planned
before a single one of them began. (Psalms 139:13-16)
You see, every time God looks at you He smiles. He smiles like a parent does every time they see a picture of that first day in the hospital with their baby. He is emotionally connected to you. He knew you before you were born. He "planned your days before they began". You are a cherished memory for God. You also are "one of a kind". Our God is an amazingly creative God. Has has no need or desire to duplicate His work. You are not a reprint, you're a one of a kind masterpiece. You were constructed by God's own hands. He hand picked everything about you; from your hair color, eyes, skin, the fact that you are sensitive, the way you naturally lead others, even the era in time that He placed you was all planned and by design. You are not an after thought, spare parts or a mistake. God is perfect and so is His masterpieces. That is why the price for you was so high.
The payment made at Calvary was made, because after God made His appraisal of His greatest masterpiece it was only the most precious commodity in Heaven and Earth that could cover it.
Jesus was given and paid for you because that is what you are worth to God. Your value doesn't come from the sum of your parts, but from the personal appraisal of God. Look what Zeph. 3:15-17 says about God's purchase of His people:
15 The Lord has removed your punishment;
He has turned back your enemy.
The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you;
you need no longer fear harm.
16 On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
"Do not fear;
Zion, do not let your hands grow weak.
17 Yahweh your God is among you,
a warrior who saves.
He will rejoice over you with gladness.
He will bring [you] quietness with His love.
He will delight in you with shouts of joy."
After God paid for you, He didn't look at the receipt in shock. He didn't have buyers remorse. No, He did a happy dance and "shouted with Joy"! Yes, the Cross paid for sin and restored the broken relationship it brought between us and God. But the price paid was so much more.
And God wants you to know that He feels you were worth every penny. You, my friend, are priceless.
This devotional meditation was shared with my Tres Dias community at our secuela on Saturday May 19th, 2012.
I don't want to make a habit of posting a lot of material from other people or resources but I get an email devotional each day from a marketplace ministry and this one really stood out to me and I wanted to share it.
