The deal is done and we have left the EU. But we are assured that we will retain friendship with Europe because we share its values.
A few days before this, a disgraced former British MI6 spy died in Russia. He had said that he did not feel that he ‘belonged’ to Britain because he could not share its values. He believed fervently in Communism, and so was a traitor to Britain, betraying many British spies to death during the cold war.
There have been many traitors in history. The most famous in the Bible was the disciple Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus into the hands of the religious rulers. Jesus himself was accused of being disloyal. At his fake trial, the Jews said to Pilate:
“If you let this man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar”
John 19:12
In fact, Jesus had not been disloyal to Caesar at all. While agreeing that he was indeed to be a king, Jesus had already told Pilate:
“My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here”
John 18:36
And later, in a letter to believers, an apostle wrote the following words about faithful men and women who shared ‘heavenly’ values and hopes.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth…..But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them
Hebrews 11:12-14
So we ask the question. What are our most important values? Let our New Year resolution be to find out what God’s values are. Then we can be loyal friends of Jesus and not traitors. If we do this then God will not be ‘ashamed’ of us, but pleased to give us a place in His wonderful kingdom with Jesus as king.