4th January 2014

A wedding anniversary is looming, and in my sentimentality – with emphasis on the word ‘mental’ – I scanned the local jewellers for some stones of the emerald kind. I was aware prior to my visit that gems came in both natural and synthetic varieties, but I didn’t know about a third category of stone that the jeweller called ‘simulated’. I couldn’t believe my ears. Simulated! In other words, some pretentiously painted polymer that is nothing more than a puerile piece of prettification. Needless to say I kept my wallet in the closed position.

The word however reminded me of something that Jesus said when he scanned the faces of those to whom he delivered one of his early sermons. “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7).

Wow! I wonder if the gleam and sparkle of these religious pretenders would have sucked me in? I hope not, but the warning stands. There are those who simulate true belief in order to create an audience and a following. But one day their gleam will be rubbed off, and the Master Jeweller shall expose them as nothing more than religious bling.

DM 31^st Dec 2013