Most Valuable Lost Item

I was once asked what was the most valuable item I have ever lost.

Here is my answer, starting with three verses from one of my favorite psalms (I only have 150 favorite psalms).

Psalm 119:
14 "I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches."
72 "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver."
127 "Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold."

My Most Valuable Lost Item:
My faithful old Bible of 15 years use, filled with hand written notes, sermon outlines, illustrations, and a collection of quotes of missionaries, preachers, statesmen, presidents, translators, martyrs, Indian chiefs, soldiers, patriots, kings, grandparents, and one leper (scrawled on the margins of the pages, the concordance, blank pages, so forth).

It was the first Bible I read all the way through, and I read it through over 20 times.  It was the Book  read, studied, and memorized, and meditated on.  

I traveled back and forth across the nation with it to Israel, Turkey, and Greece with it, taught and preached out of it in churches, at camps, in Bible Studies, at homes and in schools and libraries, in jails and prisons, outside abortion mills, on street corners, across the street from sodomite bars, at Dinosaur Adventure Land.  I carried it just about everywhere I went.

It was the Book in my hand when I testified of the truth of God with a Mormon child at a 5 Day Club, a Jehovah's Witness a the Corn Palace Fair, a Jew beside the Western Wall, a stewardess on a cruise ship in the Aegean Sea, and a Muslim seated beside me on a plane flight.  It was what I held as I shared the Gospel and saw individual children, teens, grownup, college students, and convicts bow the knee to Jesus Christ.  

On the pages are actual drops of my blood, sweat, and tears, for the simple reason that it was with me when I bled, cried, and perspired.  

I named it Alethia, meaning "Truth".  I took it from John 17:17 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth [aletheia]." 

Throughout my single years, it was my most valuable possession, and I often said that if I could carry one item from a burning building, I would without hesitation grab that Book.  

It was misplaced years ago, and still tears sting my eyes whenever I think of it.  I wanted to leave it to one of my children when I passed on, and had actually started another preaching Bible, Alethia II.  It contained the quote of John Bunyan's that I share now:

"Then said he, 'I am going to my Father's; and though with great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble have been to arrive where I am.  My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it.  My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles Who now will be my rewarder.' ...So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side."

I love Alethia II, which I used much the same as the first Alethia for 8 years, until August of 2018, when it flew from the roof of my vehicle on the highway on the way home from the abortion mill.  I found that Bible an hour later after much backtracking and a desperate search, thank God!  It was much damaged, but I still am blessed to have it, though soon afterwards, I started on Alethia III, which I presently study and wield.

But I love my old Sword, and precious lessons I learned from it.  How I would love for it to show up again!  I pray that if I never see it any more, that someone else will come across it, be encouraged by it, be convicted through it, read it, and find the true and living God Who gave His word to make mankind wise unto salvation, and will come to love and follow the precepts therein.

II Timothy 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Abortion must be abolished.