In 2019 Edward Spencer-Churchill reviewed the security arrangements for a solid gold toilet at Blenhiem Palace. It was part of an art installation. He announced that it would not be ‘the easiest thing to nick’. Sadly, he was wrong as thieves broke in and made off with it during a raid lasting less than five minutes. Fast forward nearly six years and the thieves have this week been convicted of burglary.
Toilets and thieves once combined in some important teaching Jesus gave to his friends. Obsessed at the time with not eating impure foods he pointed out that it’s not what we eat that makes us unclean. While food passes through our digestive system and is flushed away it’s what comes from our hearts – evil thoughts, theft, murder, greed, deceit and the like – that really pollute. And like the thieves who stole the toilet one day we will have to give an account of ourselves.
The good news is that Jesus not only pointed out the problem but also provided the answer. He took to the cross all of our sin and wrongdoing and, as the perfect Son of God, paid the price that should have been ours. It’s like they were just flushed away.
