Whose dime are you?

Recently, a noted celebrity passed, and instantly social media was buzzing with the question, "Was this person a Christian?"

 

Obviously, God Almighty will make that final determination; nevertheless, my mind toyed with the query.

 

Once, a group of tricksters confronted Jesus with an equally puzzling issue, to which Christ replied, "Show me a coin!"

 

And they brought him a silver coin.

 

He asked, "Whose picture and name are on it?"

 

"The Emperor's," they answered.

 

Then Jesus told them, "Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God." Mark 12:15-17 The men were amazed at Jesus's answer, and so should we be! 

 

Thus, regarding the spiritual status of the deceased celebrity, we could simply ask, "Whose image did he bear - Jesus or Satan? When he spoke, who did he sound like - Jesus or Satan? From his youth, who did he imitate - Jesus or Satan?"

 

Are we judging? Absolutely not! We are merely repeating Christ's criteria for finding the "owner of the coin."

 

Do not be deceived! Celebrity status is not the same as Election to Salvation by Grace, "If you belong to the world, its people will love you. But you don't belong to the world. I have chosen (elected) you to leave the world behind, and this is why its people hate you." John 15:19

 

There's a big difference right there between acceptance and rejection, largely based on natural appearance, for Jesus said, "By their fruit you will RECOGNIZE them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will RECOGNIZE them." Matthew 7:16-20

 

That's a very simple answer which does a beautiful job of putting the thorny question to rest, based on human observation alone. Will everyone agree that personal appearance, life choices, and individual behavior identify eternal status with God? Heavens, no! But, be that as it may. We will all be judged by the Word alone, not celebrity status or public opinion, concerning the "ownership image" that's stamped on our lives at the moment of death.

 

So, whose dime, are you?

 

Edwin Woolsey