The Privilege Is Mine

Yes, it’s time for taxes. We all groan. We gather all the documents that represent our life last year.

This year I had my “Aha” moment as I was taking my files to my tax guy. Really, I did. I do hate the process of gathering the papers, receipts, and 1099’s, and W2’s and WD40’s (Just kidding about the WD40.) But gather I did because that’s what you do here in the United States of America.

It made me think of this story:

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words.  And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”  But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites?  Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”  They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. Matthew 22:15-22

I realized that God puts us on this Earth at a certain time in history and a certain place. I happen to be a citizen of the United States of America in the year 2015 AD. My time and placement is not an accident. It was planned by God. I’m supposed to do something here that glorifies God. I’m supposed to make the most of this time in history. Part of this is to appreciate my spot on the globe in this year.

I think Jesus made the Pharisees realize this deeper level. It’s not about whom the political leader is for you, it’s about what you are doing for God in this placement. The Pharisees realized that were using the money available to them under the government in their spot on the Earth. But were they using the time available to them under God in their spot on the Earth?

That was my “Aha!” I remembered the song I sang in college; “Only one life, so soon it will pass. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” I’m here for a heavenly purpose at a heavenly time in a heavenly place. Yes, I will live under the rules of the place where I am. But, yes, I will fulfill my heavenly destiny.

So when the government says, “How about those taxes for last year spent with us?”

I say, “Certainly. It was my privilege.”

And when the Holy Spirit pricks my heart with, “How did you spend last year for God?”

I say, “Thank you for the time here. It was my privilege.”

Crucified With Christ

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

I love cross jewelry. I have a few necklaces with crosses. They are pretty and fancy and filled with precious metal and different gemstones. I wear them as a statement of my faith in the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ Son of God. I’m serious about the symbolism of my cross jewelry. But none of them in any way resemble a true crucifixion.

I did some studying on Roman crucifixion. I will not share what I found out. It is ugly, demeaning, humiliating, gory, and the worst form of punishment the Romans of that day could think of. People didn’t talk about it. People absolutely didn’t wear it as a symbol. People avoided conversations about it. It was a visible torture for the community to see what may happen to them if they crossed the line of Roman law.

And yet the Apostle Paul, not so long after Jesus’ crucifixion, said that he proudly stood with Jesus and shared in His crucifixion. He said the hushed up word out loud. And those that heard knew what crucifixion looked like. They had some experience in the tyrannical Roman government and use of force to compel people to conform to their standard. And Paul just put it out there for all to hear.

It must have been a little shocking. Non-believers in Christ must have thought it was crazy. New believers must have known the stand they would have to take in aligning themselves with this crucified Christ.

And now all these years later that ugly picture of crucifixion has become to Christ followers all over the world, a beautiful thing. We spiritually crucify ourselves daily and trust in our Savior Jesus and live for Him. The cross has been transformed because of Christ into a lovely thing. We, as Christ followers today, take the same stand and align ourselves with the crucified Christ.

We proudly wear our crosses.

We proclaim,

“I am crucified with Christ.

I don’t live for myself anymore.

Christ lives in me.”

On What Do I Rely?

I felt pretty good about the safety of my car. I change the oil every 3,000 mile. I have the tires rotated to insure even wear. There is a new battery in the car. I’m a member of an auto club that will be there for me if anything happens on the road. But today I got a recall notice that I have a faulty airbag that may randomly deploy and send shrapnel out on me, the driver.

I felt pretty good about the safety of my house. I get a termite inspection every year. I keep the filters changed in the heat/air. I spot check the roof for any problems. I have everything inspected regularly. I change the batteries in the smoke detectors every year.  But today I found out that all of my outlets were “backstabbed” when the house was built and could cause a fire and there is rust on my furnace and drip pan which means there was an instillation irregularity.

I have done everything by the maintenance book to insure that I would have no problems. But I couldn’t foresee these things. It has got to start out right, to be maintained. I was falsely relying on the builder and manufacturer. I trusted that they and the companies would produce a faultless product that I would maintain. Wrong.

Psalm 91:2  This I declare about the Lord: He ALONE is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I will trust Him.

My reliance is secure in only one builder, manufacturer, maker, and creator – God. He starts out with a faultless place of safety and security - Himself. I can have confidence that I will have no problems with His care for me. Though the future is unsure in my eyes, it’s not in His.

And so, on what can I really rely?

Who is my security?

In whom may I place my confidence?

Where will I find a faultless place of safety?

What is my unflawed protection?

God ALONE