Remembering Who We Are...
Well, it's over, the election, that is! Whether or not the results caught us by surprise is of little consequence. As people of God, we have guidelines for how to respond pertaining to government and earthly leaders. Our All-wise Heavenly Father didn't leave us without instruction for even what we could consider the bleakest of circumstances.
My thought today has to do with remembering just who we are as pertaining to life on this earth. Though we have a great responsibility to provide honestly and submit to authorities in this earth, we have a higher purpose than these. We must remind ourselves that we are indeed "sojourners" in this land. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our King is in heaven, and this is where we will reign with Him in eternity.
As important as it is to act responsibly in our affairs nationally, the greater effort in the life of the believer should be applied to the eternal kingdom. We are enlisted as "soldiers in the army of the Lord." We labor to build His kingdom and lay up eternal treasure in heaven where "moth and rust" can't corrupt, nor can it be stolen.
As for those earthly instructions, we are commissioned to "pray for our leaders" and to "render unto them" those things belonging unto them. The Scripture tells us that "The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Why not do what we can, when we can, with what He's given us?
How blessed we are to live in this land, even in light of all of its trouble. But, how much more blessed we are to be citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Imagine such a utopia of perfection as an eternal home! Wow!
May we keep our chin up, but pray without ceasing for this nation; living as the people of God.
Have a blessed week,
Julie
Scripture references: I Tim. 2:2; Rom. 13:7; Heb. 11:13; 2 Cor. 5:2; II Tim. 2:3; Php. 3:20; James 5:16
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Well, it's over, the election, that is! Whether or not the results caught us by surprise is of little consequence. As people of God, we have guidelines for how to respond pertaining to government and earthly leaders. Our All-wise Heavenly Father didn't leave us without instruction for even what we could consider the bleakest of circumstances.
My thought today has to do with remembering just who we are as pertaining to life on this earth. Though we have a great responsibility to provide honestly and submit to authorities in this earth, we have a higher purpose than these. We must remind ourselves that we are indeed "sojourners" in this land. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our King is in heaven, and this is where we will reign with Him in eternity.
As important as it is to act responsibly in our affairs nationally, the greater effort in the life of the believer should be applied to the eternal kingdom. We are enlisted as "soldiers in the army of the Lord." We labor to build His kingdom and lay up eternal treasure in heaven where "moth and rust" can't corrupt, nor can it be stolen.
As for those earthly instructions, we are commissioned to "pray for our leaders" and to "render unto them" those things belonging unto them. The Scripture tells us that "The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Why not do what we can, when we can, with what He's given us?
How blessed we are to live in this land, even in light of all of its trouble. But, how much more blessed we are to be citizens of the kingdom of heaven. Imagine such a utopia of perfection as an eternal home! Wow!
May we keep our chin up, but pray without ceasing for this nation; living as the people of God.
Have a blessed week,
Julie
Scripture references: I Tim. 2:2; Rom. 13:7; Heb. 11:13; 2 Cor. 5:2; II Tim. 2:3; Php. 3:20; James 5:16
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"Election 2012"
I remember reading in High School Charles Dickens epic tale, "A Tale of Two Cities". In it he writes, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way . . ."
Now I don't remember much more of what this story was all about (it seems like something I might want to re-read). But I do know this, after the election I found myself with the feeling that I was living in a strange country among a strange people! I found myself wondering if I was experiencing what Daniel of old, or the Prophet Jeremiah had experienced. How could this be in my own country? It was then this work of Dickens came to mind, I remember in a previous election, then canidiate John Edwards campaigned on the "Two Americas". I'm not just talking about the Republican and Democratic Parties, that is only a part. The Republican Party has drifted so far from the founding principles many of them live and think in the other America as well.
What is considered now to be the best of times, our founding principles would conclude as the worst of times. What is considered today as the age of wisdom, our founding principles would consider the age of foolishness. Our incredulous nature [a withholding or refusal of belief] today is in vast contrast to the belief of our founding principles. The season of Light in which we rejoice today, is but only Darkness to the founding principles before us.
There is a scripture, "Mark 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." This is of great concern to me for it indicates that one of these "times" will prevail, or both shall fall!
We were once a people who believed certain things to be true because they were unaiable and established in the unrevocable and unreprovable Word of God. Our sense of right and wrong were establish by scripture and our Christian faith. Today we believe certain things to be true based upon our reasonings and judgments of cultural changes, all of which are unstable because they change with the wind of society. For instance, if society deems homosexuality acceptable, then we reason among ourselves that this must be right, our belief changes and our culture moves on. This is in contrast to the holding of the principles of our foundation to establish the bounds of our society.
To the later, this is the worst of times, to the former this is the best of times! I wonder if the rift of division could have been wider during our War between the States? We, it appears have once again become divided, a people of two philosophies. The last time it cost us more than we could have ever imagined, I can only ponder what price will be paid this time, if we do not again embrace the foundation laid for us by our Founders!
I remember reading in High School Charles Dickens epic tale, "A Tale of Two Cities". In it he writes, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way . . ."
Now I don't remember much more of what this story was all about (it seems like something I might want to re-read). But I do know this, after the election I found myself with the feeling that I was living in a strange country among a strange people! I found myself wondering if I was experiencing what Daniel of old, or the Prophet Jeremiah had experienced. How could this be in my own country? It was then this work of Dickens came to mind, I remember in a previous election, then canidiate John Edwards campaigned on the "Two Americas". I'm not just talking about the Republican and Democratic Parties, that is only a part. The Republican Party has drifted so far from the founding principles many of them live and think in the other America as well.
What is considered now to be the best of times, our founding principles would conclude as the worst of times. What is considered today as the age of wisdom, our founding principles would consider the age of foolishness. Our incredulous nature [a withholding or refusal of belief] today is in vast contrast to the belief of our founding principles. The season of Light in which we rejoice today, is but only Darkness to the founding principles before us.
There is a scripture, "Mark 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." This is of great concern to me for it indicates that one of these "times" will prevail, or both shall fall!
We were once a people who believed certain things to be true because they were unaiable and established in the unrevocable and unreprovable Word of God. Our sense of right and wrong were establish by scripture and our Christian faith. Today we believe certain things to be true based upon our reasonings and judgments of cultural changes, all of which are unstable because they change with the wind of society. For instance, if society deems homosexuality acceptable, then we reason among ourselves that this must be right, our belief changes and our culture moves on. This is in contrast to the holding of the principles of our foundation to establish the bounds of our society.
To the later, this is the worst of times, to the former this is the best of times! I wonder if the rift of division could have been wider during our War between the States? We, it appears have once again become divided, a people of two philosophies. The last time it cost us more than we could have ever imagined, I can only ponder what price will be paid this time, if we do not again embrace the foundation laid for us by our Founders!
Mr. Otis, does government have any solid foundations? Is there any chief corner stone up0n which we can rely as a people?
"I think it has an everlasting foundation in the unchangable will of God. . . . The sum of my argument is that civil government is of God." ~ James Otis. The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved (London: J. Williams and J. Almon, 1766), pp. 11,98.
Mr. Dickinson, would you like to add anything to Mr. Otis's comments?
"The rights essential to happiness. . . . We claim them from a higher source, from the Kings of kings and Lord of all the earth." ~ John Dickinson, Signer of the Constitution. The political writings of John Dickinson (Wilmington: Bonsal and Niles, 1801), Vol. I, p. 111.
Mr. Witherspoon, in light of my previous comments concerning the division that seems to rest among us, what advice would you give us?
"Whatever State among us shall continue to make piety and virtue the standard of public honor will enjoy the greatest inward peace, the greatest national happiness, and in every outward conflict will discover the greatest consititutional strength." ~ John Witherspoon, Signer of the Declaration. Works (1815), Vol. IV, p. 270.
"I think it has an everlasting foundation in the unchangable will of God. . . . The sum of my argument is that civil government is of God." ~ James Otis. The Rights of the British Colonies Asserted and Proved (London: J. Williams and J. Almon, 1766), pp. 11,98.
Mr. Dickinson, would you like to add anything to Mr. Otis's comments?
"The rights essential to happiness. . . . We claim them from a higher source, from the Kings of kings and Lord of all the earth." ~ John Dickinson, Signer of the Constitution. The political writings of John Dickinson (Wilmington: Bonsal and Niles, 1801), Vol. I, p. 111.
Mr. Witherspoon, in light of my previous comments concerning the division that seems to rest among us, what advice would you give us?
"Whatever State among us shall continue to make piety and virtue the standard of public honor will enjoy the greatest inward peace, the greatest national happiness, and in every outward conflict will discover the greatest consititutional strength." ~ John Witherspoon, Signer of the Declaration. Works (1815), Vol. IV, p. 270.
Mr.
Adams, could you give us a conclusion upon which our trust can rest,
something we can base our lives upon to once again rise as a nation and a
people."The only true basis of all government is the laws of God and nature. For government is an ordinance of Heaven, designed by the all benevolent Creator." ~ Samuel Adams. Writtings, Vol. I, p. 269.
May God bless each of you,
David
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