As time stood poised, some 2000 years ago, to pivot from BC to AD, Rome stood astride the known western world—and in a small village a male Child was born. For many centuries, time[1] would not recognize Him, but when it did all that went before would be divided by His birth from all that came after. He lived in a land awash in the corruptions of political powers and of religious elites. He was not seduced by their claims: Pharisees on one hand, Sadducees on another, and others in-between. The misuse of power, wealth, and fame were all tests of His life to which He did not succumb—the same tests of our lives. He claimed to be the way, the truth, and the light—a new way, a new truth, a new light. Yet …
Two thousand years later we seem still to be living with Sadducees and Pharisees—parties of division everywhere, each claiming superior truth—more excellent values. In the West, our divisive parties have become more visibly political, vying for our loyalties: Liberals v. Conservatives; Democrats v. Republicans; libertarians v. socialists, etc., etc. But what if they are all corrupt in their own way—misusing power, wealth, fame, and influence? Is our time really so different from His?
Do we really think that in all the history that has been, in all the warnings of scriptures and prophets, in all the déjà vu of life, that we can side with parties of contention and be on the right side? Even when certain parties claim greater affinity to God? What was it Isaiah said: “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”[2]
Did Jesus not say: "By their fruits, ye shall know them"?[3] Maybe it is time we stopped being enamored by words and started looking at the fruits of our loyalties.
[1] Occidental time
[2] Matt. 15:8
[3] Matt. 7:20
