True Leadership

Too often the media and our citizens worship at the altar of political ideology.  In this time of crisis, I hope people’s eyes are being opened to the truth--political ideology is no substitute for God.   Political leadership is no substitute for God.  Total dependance on them is like trying to pay a water bill with fool’s gold.  This is why God warned his people to follow God alone.

In the book of 1 Samuel, when God’s people asked for a king, Samuel prayed and the Lord said, “It is not you they have rejected...they have rejected me as their king.” (1 Sam. 8:6 NIV)  God went on to warn that one day their king would rule as most humans do--through greed, oppressiveness, and violence.  And when that day comes, the Lord said, “the people would cry out for relief from the king [they] had chosen, and the Lord will not answer [them] in that day.” (1 Sam. 8:7-18 NIV)  

The political stress in our nation, and especially now in this crisis, is a reminder of why we should always follow God above humans.  His law intends that people would love God with heart, mind, and strength, and love neighbor as self.  It was God’s intent that we keep God and his will at the center of our existence.  Symbolically that was expressed by the Tabernacle’s central location in the Israelite camp.  God in essence taught that to obey him is our best hope for stability and peace.  God is always with us and his wisdom and grace guides us when we obey him.  

We may have to live in a world of trouble.  But we don’t have to center our existence there.  We are only visitors in this earthly realm, passing through to eternity.  Most of the time we can honor the law of the land while abiding in the Lord -- in obedience to our true leader.  It is for spiritual peace that we follow God and trust his promises.  Remember the words of the Psalm, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” (Ps. 23:1-3 NIV)