AMERICA
AND GOD'S PROVIDENCE
As
for many people, this past week has been one of tears, and for me,
one of reflection. As the week-long ceremonies commemorating the
passing of former president Ronald Reagan has been broadcast across
the world, we have watched, sometimes through tears, sometimes with
fondness, the making of history as it has etched its mark on a brief
moment in time.
The
passing of great men is not without honor among those who have
recognized what made them so. The lamentation of a people is the
appropriate response of a nation once led by one who has faithfully
executed his office with an unashamed trust in the providence of God.
Such greatness is not determined by virtue of political party, or
even governmental policy, but rather, by the measure of their
conviction of the sovereignty of God and their courage to acknowledge
Him so beyond mere lip service. Regardless of other possible
considerations upon which many may disagree, the examples of
uprightness of character, trustworthiness and kindness do not go
unnoticed.
When
king Saul was slain on the battle field, David eulogized him in honor
of his office. "O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who
clothed you in scarlet with luxury; who put ornaments of gold on your
apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle!" (2
Sam. 1:24-25) These were words spoken by one whom Saul had tried to
kill on more than one occasion. Yet, David recognized that honor
transcends personal opinion and so he acknowledged him as "mighty."
When
Jacob died, he was honored by a nation of people who were not his
own, and as the head of a fledgling nation, he was mourned in his
passing. "So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him
went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house,
and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the house of
Joseph, his brothers, and his father's house. Only their little
ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen.
And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a
very great gathering. Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad,
which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and
very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his
father. And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw
the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, 'This is a
grievous mourning of the Egyptians.' Therefore its name was called
Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan." (Gen. 50:7-11)
As
we mourn as a nation over the falling of a "mighty" leader,
it is fitting that we honor one whose office demanded such. In the
words of Daniel, "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the
seasons; He
removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have
understanding." (Dan. 2:20-21) It is by the hand of God that
men are chosen to lead nations. It is part of the providence of God.
When
Pilate questioned Jesus, saying, " 'Do You not know that I have
power to crucify You, and power to release You?' Jesus answered,
'You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given
you from above...'" (Jn. 19:10). Regardless of Pilate's
ultimate decision, he was the one chosen by God to hold that office
for that moment in time.
While
the world empire of Rome was at it's zenith and its ruling
authorities were to become antagonistic to Christianity to the point
of persecution, Paul wrote, "Let every soul be subject to the
governing authorities. For
there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist
are appointed by God."
(Rom. 13:1) In conclusion, he wrote, "Render therefore to all
their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear
to whom fear, honor
to whom honor."
(vs. 7) The office of one who leads a nation is to be recognized to
be a place of honor among men. It is a part of the providence of
God.
The
providence of God is not easily defined because His greatness is
beyond the scope of man's finite understanding. "Oh, the depth
of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For
who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?
Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him? For of
Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory
forever. Amen." (Rom. 11:33-36) God is ultimately worthy of all
honor, and those whom He appoints are therefore to be honored as
well.
As
a past president of this good land has gone the way of all the earth,
it affords us the opportunity to reflect upon the providence of God
who put him at the helm of this nation for that appropriate time .
His generation is one of a passing legacy of honor for that which is
good and right. It is one that, regardless of religious differences,
had a common reverence for God. It is one which has today become a
rare distinction in the midst of those who have forgotten that it is
God who has blessed us as a nation. It is my solemn prayer that
those who seek to remove every vestige of God's name from that which
defines us as a nation, will be thwarted in their efforts by men such
as this fallen one, who will unashamedly defend with resolute fervor
the exalting of His name as our Creator and Sustainer.
"Therefore
I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in
authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all
godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come
to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:1-4) It is the
God-ordained responsibility of government to secure and protect for
its people the right to pursue their faith in God, to serve Him, and
for His word to have free course. Those who lead us, who are
sympathetic to such principles and to that which God's people hold
dear, are worthy of our prayers on their behalf and of our honor for
their office and their efforts to that end. God has blessed America
as the fertile ground in which truth has been free to grow and
flourish for a time. Let us all pray for men who will honor Him and
value His providence -
Gary V. Womack - June 2004