GOLD

Can the saying  "Silence is golden." be applied to the corona confinement all around the world?  Someone captured the silence of the cities  in this video. There have been fewer sirens blaring since there's no traffic and crime is way down.  The silence in some cities have caused YouTubers to post videos of birds chirping that normally aren't heard in busy downtown streets. Some construction projects have shut down so that has brought more silence too.  People aren't talking, walking, or driving.  That low hum that permeates most cities from dawn to after dark is mostly gone.    

We've all heard of the "golden rule" and there are two versions of that.  The first is, "He that has the gold, makes the rules."  Right now we are seeing the government make all sorts of rules.  Some of them designed to make us socially distant, and stay home.  Some to close down businesses supposedly for our own good and protection.  A whole lot of "gold" in the form of financial help has been released by the government to help employees and employers out during the crisis.   Wealth seems to come with power and control and not all of it is benevolent. We have to have wisdom to know the difference.  Some is a hand out and some is a hand up. Some is debt.

The second version of the "golden rule" comes from Jesus himself, when he said, "... in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. " Matthew 7:12  I have heard this mis-quoted as "Do unto others AS they do unto you."  which is an ideology of revenge where no forgiveness or mercy exists.  This is for people who just wait to see how they are gong to be treated before they decide how to treat others.  The Biblical view is that you treat others as you would like to be treated as a matter of personal principle and character. You reap what you sow.

This follows the "royal rule" to follow the two main "laws"
1. To love the Lord your God and
2. To love your neighbor as yourself.

Not only will your silence be golden, but so will your words if you follow that rule! 

​We use the word "gold" to be at the top of perfection or ultimate service.  If someone has an exquisite singing voice, we describe it as golden.  If companies advertise a "golden standard" we assume it to be exceptional compared to silver, bronze, copper, etc.  Gold medals won at competitions are the top of the top and the dedication that goes into winning them is well known. After 25 years of working for the same company employees are often awarded with the traditional "gold watch", even if they stay on a few years longer. Real gold is the most valued metallic substance in the world and I haven't even tried to describe it's scientific or technological properties. 

But just because our streets are silent, doesn't make them golden.  That is reserved for heaven, where we are told that we will walk on streets of gold. There's no silence there where throngs of people who have experienced the peace from the Prince of Peace will be shouting for joy!   Check out this description of the New City of God, "The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass."  Revelation 21:21 Now that's some kind of gold.  I can't wait to see it. 

No Corona virus there! No social distancing! No masks!  We will be face to face with God. 

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