St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 29, Heavenly Value.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 6.  

Now, in Christ's description of hell, he has given his disciples a picture of the torment that awaits those who do not heed the message of the kingdom.  Within the minds of the disciples lurks the picture of the many souls that will not see the kingdom.  There are many that they have encountered that have turned away from the message.  There are many who have not accepted the laws but turned to the worship of pagans.  There are many who live by the passions of their hearts and who disregard the calling to repentance.  So the disciples see how Satan is winning the souls of the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Christ tells them, by way of example, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?"   Are not two birds sold for a very small value?  In just the same manner, are not two small things sold for a very small value?  Are not two, lost body and lost soul, sold for a value that is very small, a value that is of no value?  Christ wants his disciples to know that those who do not accept the message have little value.  Those who are lost are like the sale of two sparrows for a very little value.  There is no value.  There is no loss.  He continues by saying, "And yet, not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave." 

So even though Satan is capturing the souls of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, those souls are the ones who have not accepted the message sent from the father.   God our father does not allow souls to go willingly into hell.  He knows all of those that do.  He makes every effort to save those lost souls.  He provides opportunities for them to repent.  He provides ways for them to hear the message.  He provides a means for them to return to the God of their forefathers.  God knows all and any lost soul is only lost by his leave and by the choice of the individual.  For Christ has told his disciples that the Father will protect them.  He has told them that the Spirit of the Father will come to them.  He has given them training to protect themselves from the tricks and traps of the devil.  So they are prepared and they will prepare others who will listen and heed the message of the kingdom of heaven.

Christ has said to his disciples that they are the salt of the earth.  But what if the salt looses its strength.  Of what good is it except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  He has also shown that the birds of the air and the lilies of the field neither toil nor sweat.  Yet the heavenly father provides for them just as he will provide for them.  Even for those who do not accept the message, God waits patiently, even up to the last minute, for the veil of deception to be thrown off and the eyes opened and they repent.   For our God is a God of mercy and a God of patience and a God of love.  And yet not one sparrow falls to the ground except by his leave.  Like the disciples, are you of great value to your heavenly father?  Is your body and soul compared to two sparrows who are sold for a farthing, a very small value?  Can you hear the message?  Do you care?  Christ is calling you to repentance that he may love you.  Will you come?