His Workmanship
Since Daddy’s death, spending time at my parents’ house leaves me with mixed emotions. I see the irises standing tall, their beards on full display, and I picture him stooped there behind the house digging out a spot for the very first ones. Inside the house, I walk on wood floors he planed and put freshly folded clothes into drawers he cut and fitted together. On the walls hang plaques he made with a wood-burning kit and his collection of arrowheads. Native American figurines, horses, and bald eagles line the mantle.
On the one hand, his absence feels so much greater there, the void he left deeper. But on the other, his memory is so close and fresh. I can almost see him. Daddy left his mark on that place. His fingerprints are everywhere.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the ways in which Daddy left his mark on me. From as far back as I can remember, people have said I look like him. I’ve written about that before. You can read the post here. But our resemblance has to do with more than genetics. From him, I learned the value of a sense of humor, and how to treat others right. He modeled for me a love of God’s word and the importance of living it out.
“And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.”
When questioned about paying taxes to Cesar, Jesus wisely responded that since the coin bore Cesar’s image, it belonged to him. Paying taxes was nothing more than giving back to him what was already his. Not only did the coin presented to Jesus bear Cesar’s likeness, it was also inscribed with the words “Son of God.” This wasn’t uncommon in ancient times. Kings often claimed to be deity. The religious leaders must have balked at the idea of paying taxes to such a blasphemer.
As was often the case, Jesus was speaking on a different level, his point of view rooted in a kingdom many of His listeners did not understand. Did they catch his meaning? Do I? What was Jesus saying when he told them to render unto God the things that are God’s?
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
In the same way the coin was stamped with the likeness of Cesar, we have been fashioned in the image of our Creator. How might I be changed if I could grasp this truth once and for all? No more striving to find myself, no trying to meet the ever-changing expectations set by the culture around me. I’ve watched my Daddy place a piece of wood on his workbench. Marveled as he cut first one shape and then another, then fit them perfectly together. Each piece made for a purpose. Our highest aim and purpose is found when we lay aside the pursuit of self-image and give ourselves to the One Who has created us in His own likeness.
To render unto God what belongs to Him is to discover our truest selves, for we are His workmanship. We belong to Him.