Time for the serious stuff.
I would like to discuss this poem. Usually I don't tell the meanings to my poems for a number of reasons (mostly because revelation is sweet when it comes on its own, that and I like people to get their own meanings from a lot of my work because there can be many ways to look at certain poems), but in this case I think a helping nudge would do the poem some justice... otherwise most won't know what it's really about.
First, you can ascertain a lot from the title. It is 'Lucky, But Not' which means, we are not lucky, but favored. So, that right there could unlock the whole poem. But I take it a step further in demonstrating that favor, which many may pass by. Let me explain.
You have to know the figurative meanings behind the literal. I must explain a few things that may elude you at first, but once you read the poem a few times, the meaning will become clearer and clearer.
The 'man at the counter' is the devil. What!? You say. Yup. And if you know that the devil is the 'accuser' then it will be clear what he's really selling (not just lottery tickets!) And also take note why I like the word 'counter' so much, because the devil 'counts' everything and holds it against us. And the 'counter' is the law.
So what is the devil selling? Guilt! The lottery ticket is guilt. Every time we let the devil take our freedom in Christ, we come under condemnation. So in exchange for 'freedom' (which is Grace, which is the money in exchange for the ticket!) we hand it over to the devil for the 'guilt ticket!'
One of the biggest learning experiences for the new Christian is to learn that NOTHING we do, once we have faith in Christ, can cause us to fall from Grace (not even a million sins) other than trying to gain righteousness through fulfilling the law. Because that would mean that Christ died in vain. And we are not perfect, but are through Christ, otherwise we would always fail for not perfectly following the law and therefore always come under condemnation. Yes, in the law of love, we should desire to do good to better love others, but ultimately doing good doesn't make us righteous. Though it may please God by the way we love.
Next, the nickel is the cross, or rather the price paid on the cross for our freedom. Every time the speaker of the poem scratches away at the ticket (guilt) with the nickel (the cross,) he finds he gets his money back (reminded that Christ paid the price in full along with an infilling of Grace.)
The poem is really a play on, that if we're not mindful of this freedom, then we go back to the counter (the law), ask the man (the devil) for another 'ticket' (guilt) and have to learn to repeat the process of using the nickel (the price paid on the cross) to scratch away to get our money back ( a new infilling of Grace).
This poem is to show the believer that we don't have to live in defeat, if we just remember that Christ paid in FULL, and when we renew our faith in him we will have ultimate victory.
Just kind words to you my friends, and I hope this sheds light on the poem, which was meant to show you the truth of the Gospel of Grace.
