I saw this news article titled “$200,000 lottery ticket nearly thrown in trash by winner.” Now I don’t condone buying the lotto and I think it has impoverished many people who are desperate. Bu I think there’s a lesson here about what we value and also the Gospel.
The article tells us this woman’s story:
Oct. 6 (UPI) — A North Carolina woman said her scratch-off lottery ticket nearly ended up in the trash before she realized it was a $200,000 winner.
Jacqueline Leigh, 60, of Roper, told North Carolina Education Lottery officials she bought a $5 Hot 5’s ticket from Roper Food Mart, but didn’t think it was a winner after scratching it off.
“I really was about to throw it away,” she said. “But I went back and looked at it again and that’s when I discovered it.”
Leigh said she was in shock to discover the ticket that nearly went into the trash was a $200,000 winner.
“I was so excited,” she said. “I think I shouted.”
Imagine how close she was to losing that money! And it made me think about those times people have thrown away actual lotto tickets and how sometimes money never got claimed.
Yet more precious than 200,000 dollars is eternal life. Life after death. Life with God that goes on forever instead of eternal punishment from God.
Sadly some people throw it away.
I think of how at times when I evangelize I give away tracts. I don’t just give tracts to people randomly but usually I give tracts after my conversation to reinforce what I share in the conversation. However sometimes after I share the Gospel when I walk back to my car I see tracts were thrown away in the trash bins.
But most times people reject the Gospel in less physically evident ways.
What is the precious Gospel that’s rejected? The Gospel in Greek means “Good News.”
But in order to understand the Good News let’s begin with the Bad News. According to the Bible all of us have sinned against God (Romans 3:23). We broken His Laws. We are guilty of wicked actions, attitude and thoughts. We deserve to be judged by God.
Yet there is a way to be saved. That way to be saved is through Jesus (John 14:6). Jesus is God the Son becoming a human being. In His humanity Jesus lived a perfect moral life and He went to the Cross to die to save sinners from the wrath of God we deserve (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can be saved if we trust in Jesus to save us from our sins with the Person and Work of Jesus. We need to trust in Him alone that it is God’s grace that saves anyone, and not by our own effort (Ephesians 2:8-9). Trust in Him today and you will be saved!
The Domain for Truth 
Wow. We just preached in front of a lottery, an open-air preaching.
Praise God for being a light brother!!!
May God be praised!
Just as I thought of how she almost squander her wealth, how many people squander their eternity
It’s always so sad to see people reject the Gospel
It is very sad
Wow! This is really, really good! It also goes to show how often people get used to losing and just throwing away the ticket. In PA the lotto is supposed to benefit older Pennsylvanians. I have never once bought a lotto ticket as the money does not actually help older folks at all. That is a whole different illustration. Thank you for sharing this and thank you again for helping me today!!!
Wow it’s similar to CA where people often point out the lotto was for education but no one thinks much of it goes to education. It’s a joy to look into those ST guys today from your work! I hope there be classes soon in your program that is BT; I know BT is your area. And over the years I wish more ST guys can teach doctrines by retrieving it from Scripture in consideration of the flow of redemptive history of where verses are cited in light of the flow of Genesis to revelation! Will there be BT classes or Biblical studies classes????
I am hoping for some BT classes!!!! I am also hoping that once ST becomes concentrated like doctrine of God, or man, or sin will be more my speed. We shall see! Westminster was one of the leads in BT so I am surprised that nothing has been offered so far. Hope are able to enjoy family time and rest today. Have y’all been to the garden lately?!?!
I cringe when I see people walk away from salvation, thinking how that moment will haunt them for eternity. 💔
Same! Very sobering thinking about it! It should make me pray more for the people I witness to!
It’s a process. I think people get an average of 7 exposures to the gospel before receiving it. I’ve seen tracts end up on the ground and won’t pick them up. Who knows where the wind takes them and who picks them up.
I was angry (long story. Irrelevant.) and riding my bike to work off the frustration. When I passed the high school, I saw pieces of paper all over the front lawn. Apparently the Gideons had been there giving out New Testaments, and someone who hadn’t appreciated the gesture had torn one up and scattered the pages. Thinking, “Well, SOMEONE’s gonna read this!” I p[icked up a random page and read the exact verse I needed to see. I told the whole story a while back…
What a grat illustration. We will never know true joy until we cling to what is of true value and throw away what is not; oh for the wisdom to live our lives with such eternal joy in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Thanks for reading this! I’m a few days behind my blog reading just FYI
I’m always behind these days and only catch what I can. Reading and writing-wise. 🙂
Good point: “Yet more precious than 200,000 dollars is eternal life. “
Thanks Frank for noticing that. God bless you sir!
Great example there. Thanks
Thanks for reading this Andy!
Great analogy. AND, thanks for spreading the good news of Jesus and deliverance from sin.
Shalom!
A good yet poignant analogy. I ignored/threw away Jesus’ Good News! of salvation for many years before I finally trusted in Him. I’ve read that 70-80% of big jackpot lottery winners end up declaring bankruptcy within five years. There’s no spiritual bankruptcy with the eternal riches of Jesus Christ!
I rather have Christ than win the Lotto given the crazy stats of what happen to people who win the lotto…some people say they can handle a lot of money I rather not be tempted if that makes sense lol
Amen! I have a good story about a former co-worker who “almost” won a big lottery jackpot. Future post.
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Amen, Pastor Jim!
And amen! Thank you for reading this brother Chris!
You’re welcome. Great analogy!
Many more People throw away something more valuable than a lotto ticket
Amen.
Praying God sustains you this week!!
You also.
[…] blogging buddy, Jimmy, over at The Domain for Truth recently posted about the lottery (see here), which inspired this post and true […]
Amen! Pastor Jim, I found meaningful connections as you pivoted the discussion to the Gospel. Nothing can ever be worth more than one’s salvation.
Beautifully said!
Thanks for reading this, God bless you!!
Fake beliefs also rob people from salvation! There is a great metaphor in the Psalms that describes the unbelief of evolutionists when they are faced with the evidence and refuse to believe it. “…they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;” Psalms 58:4