(Audio)
“Whose image and inscription is this?”
They replied to him, “Caesar’s.”
But whose image and inscription is on Caesar and indeed on everyone?
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them (see Genesis 1:27).
Yet we have a tendency to get things flipped. We tend to seek fulfillment in things, things which are made in our own image, serving our own purposes.
Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill (see Acts 17:29).
We can see in money an example of the idolatry that still afflicts us. It is perhaps less obvious than statue of a golden calf or other birds and animals and reptiles. But the way it claims the loyalty that by right belongs to God alone is obvious. It is not just the world that goes this way in its excesses. Even Christians turn to money for a sense of peace and stability that should only be sought in God. This doesn't mean we need to give away all we have. It does mean that if we rely on money and stop there we are going to be like a ship tossed on a massive storm.
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God.”
They were utterly amazed at him.
We can possess and use the things of this world. But we must realize that they are not finally ours but God's. This perspective allows us to remember the impermanence of the things we use. It allows us to walk in peace even our health and wealth are threatened.
those who deal with the world [should act] as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away (see First Corinthians 7:31).
Jesus helps us get the order right. When we care most about God and his image we can treat others as made in that image rather than as means to our own ends. We can treat the things made in the image of man in service of the ultimate end of man, which is none other than God himself. Only with this attitude can we welcome the kingdom as Peter invites us.
Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
Only when we realize the true purpose of all things will we be truly eager for the transient to be stripped away and the eternal to be revealed.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.
We do get fixated on the current heaven and the current earth, often just as much as anyone, Christian or otherwise. But God is patient. He is giving us this time, this specific time, to prepare ourselves and our world for him.
Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
Money need not leave spot or blemish on us. It need not rob our peace. It need not move us from an adult stability that grows in grace day by day, and in the knowledge of Jesus. We give thanks that our origin is in God, in whose image we are made. And we give thanks too as we are shaped ever more into that image.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (see Second Corinthians 3:18).
Since we come from God and are returning to God we can pray with the psalmist and trust that he give us all we need along the way.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
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