Has this country faced such a major crisis as we face now since the Second World War? Then, of course, we knew what (and whom) we were facing, but today it is very complex. Trust is at a premium, and it seems that the future has never been more uncertain. I feel inadequate to comment on our present national situation, yet it would surely be wrong, at this precise time, to ignore it for a lesser topic.
Permit me, therefore, to share with you a few Scriptures which I pray will bring us all some encouragement.
How appropriate is this year’s Bible Focus theme – “Who is Jesus?” He alone has, and he alone is, the answer to every human need. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight”. (Proverbs 3:5,6). Impossible though it may seem, we need to pray that the nation will once again acknowledge the Lord.
We are not an insignificant minority wanting to foist our religious viewpoint on others; rather we have come to know, by grace, the One who is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the great Ruler before whom every other ruler must, sooner or later, bow. “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles . The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” (Psalm 2:1-6)
King Jehoshaphat of Judah found himself up against a vast enemy army (II Chron 20). “The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed they came from every town in Judah to seek him”. (v4). Then Jehoshaphat led them in prayer, concluding with: “O our God…We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you” (v12). Britain needs political leadership, but we also need spiritual leadership. And we also need a unity that overrides difference of opinion. None of that appears to be on the horizon at the moment, but I am convinced it is far from simplistic to pray with the humility and faith with which Jehoshaphat prayed: “We do not know what do, but our eyes are upon you.”
“Who is Jesus?” He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Our destiny, security, hope and wisdom is in Him and Him alone. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
I really look forward to seeing many of you at Bible Focus on September 21st, at to being strengthened and encouraged and focused afresh on our reigning Lord and Saviour. “He is the true God and eternal life.” (I John 5:20).
Tony