God Issues Today: "Two-Wheeling Down the Tollway"

Author, educator and commentator Dr. James Denison has been pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas since June, 1998. Prior to that, he was pastor at churches in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as Midland (at First Baptist) and Mansfield, Texas.

How was your morning commute? (If you don't have one, have pity on those who do.) At least you had four wheels on which to make it. According to today's Wall Street Journal, General Motors and Segway, Inc. intend to change that reality. Meet the PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility), a two-wheeled machine which runs on batteries and uses wireless technology to avoid traffic backups. This is a good thing, since your daughter's bicycle would win in a collision with the device. The vehicle will have a top speed of 35 mph and be available in three years.

I'm sure my PUMA will be fine for going to the Taco Bell down the street, but it wouldn't be much fun navigating the North Dallas Tollway, surrounded by 18-wheelers and the occasional Hummer. So long as I use it for its intended purpose, all would be well.

If only I could learn that lesson spiritually. Religious leaders can be valuable in God's Kingdom, if we would serve the Father and his children. But when we think that the ministry is about us, we're on the road to disaster. So it was for Jesus' opponents on Tuesday of Holy Week. He rejected their moneychangers yesterday, inflaming their egos. As he returned to the Holy City this morning, his enemies were waiting for him.

The question seems simple enough: "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" (Matthew 22:17). But their challenge forced our Lord to take a stand on their most dangerous controversy. Rome required every subject to pay a "poll tax" to the Empire, using a coin which glorified Caesar as divine. To the Jews, this was idolatry. If Jesus supported such a sin, the adoring crowds would turn into an ugly mob and reject him as their Messiah. If he rejected this tax, the Roman soldiers standing guard would arrest him in an instant. Either way, his enemies would be rid of this Galilean and his threat to their authority.

Jesus' answer stunned his opponents: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (v. 21). We are to be loyal to our country, but first we are to be loyal to our Lord. He deserves our obedience, worship, and gratitude.

Such arrogance, for these religious authorities to elevate themselves over the Son of God. Had I been living in Jerusalem during the first Holy Week, I most assuredly would have refused their egotism—except that I commit it every time I ignore or reject my Master's word and will in my thoughts and actions. My last sin proved that I am just as self-centered as they. Every day is Tuesday for my soul. What about yours?

The good news is that our Savior loves us and forgives us. Today is a good day to submit to his grace and live for his glory. Will this be a Holy Tuesday for you?