Sermon On The Artifacts Of Life

Leo Tolstoy, a Russian writer once remarked: “Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.” 1 John 2:22 reminds us: “Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.”

An artifact is defined as an object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest. They are often considered items of rarity found in archaeology that may or may not tell their own true story. Genuine artifacts can offer insights of the past through their materials, construction, and the context of their discovery, revealing salient information about the people who created and used them. However, there is a notable proverb of warning that constantly reverberates through those of discernment: “All that glitters is not gold.” This is regarded as the caution of life, as not everything in it, is as it may appear.

Artifacts can be beautiful and of great value, or they can be derelict, broken and sometimes of little worth. They may also be deceptive, not only in appearance but also in truth. These may be items that have been intentionally faked or distorted. They could be considered to constitute the wanton lies of life. They may be constructed of false materials with the sole intention of profit, greed or misrepresentation, which unfortunately remains a pertinent factor of society and attempts to represent something its not. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 confirms: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

Deception, like fake artifacts, is also a common feature in the Bible. It attempts to reveal and highlight the consequences of lying and the importance of truth. Genesis 27:1-23 reminds us: “When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves.

And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.” But Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “Behold, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” His mother said to him, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”

So he went and took them and brought them to his mother, and his mother prepared delicious food, such as his father loved. Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. And the skins of the young goats she put on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. And she put the delicious food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.” But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the Lord your God granted me success.” Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.” So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands. So he blessed him.”