● How many people do you trust? Can you count them all on more than two hands? No? Okay then, how about one hand?
● Are there five people living in this world that you know assuredly, will always speak highly of you when you are out of earshot, will forever protect you from any slander or disparagement, will be there for you when no one else is willing to risk association with you? Not even five, huh?
● Let's try three then. Can you count using three of your digits, people that you can and do trust with your inner most thoughts, three people that you know would never betray you or turn their backs on you in your time of need? You have heard the expression, I've got your back ... do these three, have your back? No again?
● Oh my, how about one person, just the one ... is there someone that no matter what, loves you with soul soaked loyalty, that would never ever, betray you?
Judas is infamously known as an infidel, a traitor, a betrayer of most sacred trust. There is no name that compares to his, when one considers his willingness to forsake an innocent, sinless man, that also happens to be God incarnate. Think with me for a moment: Judas betrayed God, in the flesh. Does this not strike you as horrendously strange and sorrowfully sad? Judas witnessed miracles, meaning he saw Jesus command nature to conform to his will; he watched the formerly lame leap, the once tongue tied and muted speak, the blind given sight, the demon tormented set free, all by the hand and word of the living God, and yet, all he could think of was earthly gain. It is torturously regretful to think that someone given the privilege of witnessing what Judas witnessed, would think only of what he could gain financially via betrayal of the prophesied Messiah, that came to earth to die for the sins of the world. Judas literally chose death over life. He chose murder of his Master over following him into eternity ... Judas was an enemy of the Saviour, and in his end, he was his own worst enemy. He was none the richer for his infidelity, in fact, he is notoriously the biggest loser and poorest of souls, and forever will be thusly renowned while we have on earth, human history.
Judas has kindred, his kind, his type of people. They love money, prestige, and what this dying world has to offer them in the way of self-indulgent pleasure. The flesh is forever itching to be scratched, always wanting gratification, and we humans are very good at giving in, giving ourselves permission to satisfy our every urge and desire. Jesus proved it is possible to resist temptation, to resist the flesh, to stave off from sinning because the temporary glee isn't worth the long term loss and eventual, perpetual suffering, for having gone against God's grain.
Are you, dear reader, an infidel?
Would you take thirty pieces of silver to sell out the Saviour? Is this an obtuse question for you to be asked and then be required to answer? Do you refuse to consider the possibility that you would ever do such a thing? Okay, how about cheating on your spouse, or lying to your children, stealing from your employer, or maybe hiding money from the tax man? Perhaps you harbour envy in your heart, or covet your neighbours wife, property, and life, or you secretly fantasize the satisfaction you would experience if you saw your mortal enemy suffering for all the wicked things they have done to you and others ... I just described the carnal life, and while we are on the subject, are you a flesh indulgent sinner that runs from the thought of being accountable to God, and to the people he has placed before you?
Betrayal is the most painful form of persecution and dare I say, it is precisely what Jesus told us we would experience when we started after him on The Way. Jesus' people, the chosen ones of God, had the benefit of having him in their midst, and yet they were the ones that could not stand to hear him say he is the I AM. Can you stand it, dear one? Is he the I AM, to you? or are you just like Judas, willing to forsake your own soul, for some pennies that tarnish, and can never buy you the joy of life and life abundant. We are fading flowers, wilting with every day that passes, and while we breathe, eat, drink, sleep, work, play, we also march to the grave: death is calling and it does not give a damn how much money we have made, or what clothes we wear, or the circles we have travelled ... death doesn't, give a damn.
So, I ask you again, are you an infidel, like Judas? You don't have to be, you can switch your loyalty from being all about you, to being all about Jesus, the lover of your soul. Jesus will never forsake you, nor will he betray you or speak harshly behind our back, or give you up for another. Jesus will always be by your side and love you through your sadness, weariness, suffering. He will give you comfort and be balm for your wounded soul, and he will be your shield in times of tribulation and trouble, standing before you so that you can hide in the shadow of his power. Jesus can be your everything, your all in all, if you let go of that tight grip you think you have on this life you are losing, while residing in that shell of a body. You have no say, dear reader, none at all, in the aging and dying process! It is laughable to think otherwise, and to pretend that you will not go where all your ancestors ended up ... you will return to the dirt from which you were sculpted, and so will every other human being you currently know. Does this terrify you? It doesn't have to ...
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