“Then the Pharisees left the place where Jesus was teaching. They made plans to catch him saying something wrong. They sent some men to Jesus. They were some of their own followers and some from the group called Herodians. They said, “Teacher, we know you are an honest man. We know you teach the truth about God’s way. You are not afraid of what others think about you. All people are the same to you. So tell us what you think. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus knew that these men were trying to trick him. So he said, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to catch me saying something wrong? Show me a coin used for paying the tax.” They showed Jesus a silver coin. Then he asked, “Whose picture is on the coin? And whose name is written on the coin?” They answered, “It is Caesar’s picture and Caesar’s name.” Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.””
In life, our choices and actions really decide two things. Is your life purely yours as if you are God himself? Or, is your life dedicated to God where you put Him first?
Let’s dig just a bit deeper. Some have asked why God puts people in Hell. God does not put people in Hell, they choose to go there. God will not make you love Him. He will offer, but the choice is yours. So, if you choose to dedicate your life to selfish worldly desires, you have chosen to be away from Him. You have rejected Him through your own choices. Since you reject Him by choice, you are away from Him. So, if you want to know what Hell is, it’s a place of absolutely no good. It’s a narcissistic place with absolutely no love except lovers of self. There is no hope, no future, no compassion, no rules, no mercy, no sharing and no kindness. It’s a place where every person is for themselves. You see, all Good is God. Without Him, you have no good whatsoever.
Again, the choice is yours and God loves you so much to allow you to choose. God is simply giving you your wish through your actions. Talk is cheap. That’s why the Holy Spirit advises but allows you to decide. So, deciding what the image of the coin looks like is purely yours to decide.
by Kent Brosh a Kawaiaha’o Blog Contributor
Alberta, Canada
