Mirrored

Image is everything, isn't it? It defines who you are, how you are, and what you are. It's a reflection in the mirror or a picture on the wall.

We've all heard how Jesus, when questioned about taxes replied, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" We've been preached to in church about how this gives us a Biblical example of submitting to our governmental authorities, and we've been shown how this represents Jesus' opinion of tithes and offerings. I don't think that this is what was meant by Jesus' response. When looking back at the text today, I saw something. More then me seeing something, it was God showing me something.

Matthew 22:18-21 "18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought Him a denarius, 20 and He asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" 21 "Caesar's," they replied. Then He said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

Are you ready for the revelation. Jesus asked them who's picture was on the coin. Then He asked, who's inscription (signature/mark) is on that coin? He wasn't interested in its value, but more in the image it represented. Because the coin had a picture of Caesar on it, it belonged to Caesar. So what then is God's?

Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

If a coin bearing the picture or image of Caesar belongs to Caesar then a person, bearing the image of God, made in the image of God is therefore what belongs to God! Jesus wasn't using this "test" to talk about paying taxes or tithes, He was using this test to show that man belongs to God. He was saying that we are go give ourselves COMPLETELY to Him because we belong COMPLETELY to Him! We are all made in the image of God. How many times have you looked at a photo that may have your image in it somewhere? Are your eyes drawn towards you in the picture? The Earth is God's photo album and we are His "images". God, the Creator-Father, is looking at us all, seeking the beauty in us.

And that's that!