Images and Inscriptions

Matthew 22:17-22
 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said,"Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? "Show Me the tax money."
So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them,"Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him,"Caesar's." And He said to them,"Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
 What is lawful? Is it lawful to obey ungodly authority? How does the believer submit under government even when government does not submit to God? Jesus answers our question with a question in Matthew 22 vs 20, "Who's image and inscription is on the coin?"  It all comes down to images and inscriptions. I am a believer. Jesus is my King! I carry His image and His inscription in my heart. I am called under His authority to give Him my life. In my submission, God has told me to be subject to governing authorities.(Romans 13:1) This means to obey the laws of the land. I am to commit to my government every thing they ask of me as long as what they ask of me coincides with my submission to God. I certainly  am not to sin against God even if the laws demand it. Also, I am not to use the law of man as an excuse to sin against God. In other words when governmental law gives me the right to do something contrary to God, I am to remember that I carry God's inscription and image. Therefore I am to abstain from sin. It is also a sin to retaliate against government when they do things contrary to God. This is not our place! Just because our government has legalized abortion it does not give the believer the right to bomb an abortion clinic. This does more harm than good. We are to speak truth, pray and leave the rest up to God. We best represent Him by submission and love even if we don't think it is warranted. We must remember that Jesus  witnessed and experienced many unjust acts by the Roman government while He walked on earth. He saw there corrupt practices and never once did He retaliate. As a matter of fact, Jesus ministered to those in the roman government. He even saw them converted. The Roman Centurion had great faith as Jesus healed his servant.(Matthew 8:13) Even Matthew, His disciple was a tax collector for the Roman government. Tax collectors were known for being thieves and yet Jesus loved him. A crooked, rigged trial sentenced Jesus to death, and He never resorted to violence. It was a government ordered execution that put Him to death on a Roman cross and yet He only prayed for their forgiveness. It was at His crucifixion that a Roman centurion recognized Him. In that moment when all of the worlds sin was placed on Him and Jesus cried out to His Father. The earth shook, the sky turned black and the veil of the temple was torn in two. There was no retaliation from Jesus. There was no violence on His part. Only love, only grace, only mercy! The Roman Centurion witnessed how God was saving the world and it was that witness that made his heart change. We read his profession in Matthew 27:54, "So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying,"Truly this was the Son of God!" By submission we are more than conquerers and we show Jesus to the world! Render to the government what belongs to the government and to God what belongs to God!