Our Creator is righteous, meaning He is morally perfect. Each person has an eternal existence, not limited by the mortality of our earthly lives. At the end of our earthly life, each person that our righteous Creator views as morally perfect will co-exist with Him in Heaven for all eternity. Those our righteous Creator does not view as morally perfect, because of unforgiven sins resulting from our rebellious nature, will exist for all eternity away from Him in what is commonly called hell. It is called hell because of the terrible suffering for all in this place. The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs, not only during our earthly life, but for all eternity. In our Creator’s guidebook to us, hell is described as “eternal fire”, “a lake that burns with fire and sulfur” (Revelation. 21.8). As Jesus taught:

They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth… Anyone who has ears should listen! (Matthew 13:42-43)

From an eternal perspective, only the righteous can stand in our Creator’s presence. The dilemma is that as a part of the human condition and the choices we are allowed to make with our free will:

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

We all fall short of our Creator’s requirement! However, God in His love for His creation, and His sensitivity to the human predicament, has taken it upon Himself to provide a solution for this predicament. Knowing that mankind by itself could never solve this predicament, He entered human history Himself as Jesus to solve this dilemma. He did this by dying the painful suffering of the crucifixion, not for anything He had done wrong, but for what each of us has done to offend our righteous Creator. God has told us:

Jesus is the image of the invisible God…. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Jesus and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things…by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:15‑20).

Mahatma Gandhi described this sacrifice when he said that Jesus,

a man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.

Thus, Jesus has told us:

I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).

Our Creator has told us:

There is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God is able to forgive us and to see us as holy. Jesus’ death and resurrection is the only provision given to mankind whereby we can have our sins forgiven and have this intimate relationship with God that lasts for all eternity. God has told us:

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Colossians 1:21‑22).

God took the sinless Christ and poured into Him our sins. Then, in exchange, He poured God’s goodness into us! (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Let me be very clear: What I am advocating is not religion. It is the person of Jesus. As God Himself, Jesus is for all of us, not just certain races, cultures, or regions of the world. I believe this is what Mahatma Gandhi meant when he said:

Because the life of Jesus has the significance and the transcendency to which I have alluded, I believe that he belongs not solely to Christianity, but to the entire world; to all races and people, it matters little under what flag, name or doctrine they may work, profess a faith or worship a God inherited from their ancestors.

The repentance and forgiveness that allows us to have an intimate relationship with God and to know with confidence that we will never be separated from our Creator, both in this life and for all eternity, is centred in the person of Jesus. Let us not think we can have this any other way but through embracing Jesus and Him alone.

Perhaps this illustration may help you understand what our Creator has done for us through His love. There was a small town that had only one judge. This judge had a rebellious son who, as a result of breaking the law, was brought before the judge. The judge, in his desire to be just, had no choice but to declare his son guilty and to issue a sentence of a steep fine or a prison sentence. This presented a hopeless situation as the fine was beyond the son’s capacity to pay. After issuing the penalty, the judge then took off his robe, left the judge’s bench, stood next to his son, and paid the fine on his behalf. This is a picture of what our Creator God has done for us. Out of His love, He has paid our penalty for us.

How do we place our faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, so we can experience this intimate relationship with God? The illustration that communicates best to me relates to the region where I grew up — near Niagara Falls. The water flows over Niagara Falls so violently that if anyone falls into the water, it is certain death. Many people do risky things over Niagara Falls to gain attention. One of these was a tightrope walker. He had a wire strung over the Falls, from one side to the other. This man first walked along this wire from one side of the Falls to the other, and back. Then, as the crowd grew, he repeated his walk but this time he pushed a wheelbarrow in front of him as he walked over the wire to the other side and back. Then, he boldly filled the wheelbarrow with bricks and guided it along the wire over the Falls. By this time, the crowd had grown very large and was cheering loudly for him. He then asked the crowd “How many of you believe I can take this wheelbarrow over the Falls carrying a person inside instead of these bricks?” The crowd cheered wildly. Then, he asked the crowd “Who is willing to get into the wheelbarrow?” The crowd suddenly became silent. Their belief lacked 100% confidence. To place our faith in Jesus Christ means to get into the wheelbarrow with Him, making ourselves completely dependent upon Him. Our sole basis for having our sins forgiven and for entering a personal relationship with God is availing ourselves of Jesus’ death on our behalf.

It is this making ourselves dependent upon Jesus that gives us the forgiveness of our Creator for Him to view us as righteous. An important consequence of this intimate relationship with our Creator is His dwelling within our lives, and, as a result, receiving His ability to guide us as His instruments in our nations and to help achieve His purposes. No one — neither you nor I — can fully become the agent God would use to bring our Creator’s blessings to our nations without the life of Jesus in us. Therefore, both for the sake of ensuring your eternal destiny as well as developing the kind of relationship with God necessary for serving our nations as Statesmen, I challenge you to come to Him. Jesus invites us:

If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him (John 7:37-38).

As we come to Jesus and drink, God will forgive us. Furthermore, this will allow us to receive instruction from God and to partner with Him to build healthy nations. For this reason, I invite you to come to Jesus and drink. Let me encourage you to embrace the Master Shepherd of our world and your life. I encourage you to invite Jesus into your life by praying to God, for example:

Holy God, please forgive me for sinning against You. Thank You for loving me enough that You came to this earth as Jesus and died on my behalf so that I could have an intimate relationship with You. I ask You to come into my life to dwell. Today, I receive You as my Saviour from my sins. I ask You to guide me moment-by-moment as I serve You. Thank You. Amen.

Not only will this ensure your eternal destiny, but it will start you on the most exciting journey known to mankind, including opening the door to become God’s agent for serving our people and bringing the well-being to our people that He intends. This allows us to operate as Statesmen by applying the powerful truth that we may then allow the life of Jesus to live through us:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:19-20).

If we were to apply this with each decision we make, it would mean each decision being made under the guidance of our Creator, and the love of our Creator for His creation being reflected. Then, the resulting acts would be considered the selfless acts of a Statesman.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE STATESMAN

Am I willing to apply Pascal’s Wager: “What do I have to lose by trusting God to provide eternal life for me in light of all I am offered to gain by a trustworthy Creator?”

Is it fair to my people to risk depriving them of all the benefits our trustworthy Creator promises them if I do not submit to Him

The post The Essential Truth That Would Allow One to Become a Statesman appeared first on CENTRE FOR STATECRAFT.

The challenge that the Statesman always faces is a vision far greater than the resources available to achieve that vision. Hence, the Statesman always needs additional help. In this regard, we learn invaluable insights from the inspired prayer of God’s servant Paul expressed to a special group of believers:

I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in heaven (Ephesians 1:19-20).

At first glance, this promise seems unbelievable because it states that our Creator is making available to His followers the same mighty power that He exercised when He raised Jesus from the dead. Let us look more closely at the promise expressed:

… to help those who believe Him.

We are reminded that this incredible power is only available to those willing to place their confidence in our Creator to perform what He promises. This promise is supported elsewhere in our Creator’s instruction manual:

The One who calls you is faithful, and He will also accomplish it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

If our Creator asks us to do something, He promises to add His dimension to it to accomplish what we never dreamed possible. It is essential that we have full confidence in Him as we take this step trusting in Him.

… that you will begin to understand.

This addresses the issue that we cannot receive this kind of power on our behalf unless we recognize the reality of this truth. This reminder was, in fact, written to the best educated group of believers in the first century. Those who received this reminder were presumably the best prepared believers of that era as Paul had conducted training daily for two years in their midst. This reminds us of the challenge we, who have become dependent on our five senses, in opening our minds to things unless we can see and touch them.

The Necessity to Believe. It is necessary that we take our Creator at His Word and confidently trust Him in His commitment to deliver:

We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; His perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what He might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what He might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that He really loves us (I John 4:18).

We are admonished that, as a general principle, when we recognize that there is something our Creator has promised us and we still have not received it:

Now if any of you lacks …, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:5-7).

It is essential to understand that the one who is skeptical of our Creator:

…should not expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:7).

Based Upon Our Confidence, We Must Ask.

We must ask. We are told:

You do not have because you do not ask (James 4:2).

But there is a second element to this failure. It is the way we ask:

You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires (James 4:3).

As a Statesman, there is only one motivation for asking: the well-being of those we serve, not for our own importance:

…so that [the people] may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:2).

It is essential that we are motivated by our Creator’s will, and that alone:

Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for (1 John 5:14-15).

I submit to you that based upon these truths, we can ask our Creator and Lord for His:

…incredibly great … power … to help those who believe Him… the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20).

And I submit to you that it is this power we need to meet the needs of our people in this complex world. Obviously, this requires that we have the kind of partnership with our Creator that we can have the confidence in Him to aggressively ask Him, knowing He will provide. Of course, this can only work if the Spirit of the Living God is within us. This relies on making sure the channel between God and us has been opened by our taking advantage of Jesus’ death for our sinful nature and His resurrection. Jesus made this clear when He said:

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).

The reality is that Jesus’ crucifixion accomplished payment for our disobedience to our Creator that blocked the access channel to Him. And Jesus’ resurrection from death confirmed that He accomplished what He promised through His crucifixion. We must make sure we have taken this step in appropriating our Creator’s forgiveness as we seek His help and His power necessary to truly be His instrument in the lives we are called to serve. It is essential that we make sure the Spirit of God is within us in order to invoke His miraculous power. This unbelievable achievement is summarized:

He made the One [Jesus] who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

This is truly an undeserved gift that has forever changed my own life!

CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE STATESMAN

In what ways does my vision exceed my human ability to deliver?

Am I positive that my dream for those I am called to serve comes from our Creator?

What do I need to be able to trust God for His supernatural power so that I may deliver what my ultimate Master desires to those I serve?

The post The Power Needed by the Statesman appeared first on CENTRE FOR STATECRAFT.

The reality is that the Statesman operates on a foundation that goes against our human instincts. Hence, it is worth examining that foundation carefully.

The starting point is there is a Designer who created the universe with a purpose. He declared:

I am the Lord, Maker of all things, Who alone stretches out the heavens, Who spreads out the earth by Myself (Isaiah 44:24).

The truth we must acknowledge is:

All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created (John 1:3).

God, the Designer, actively reigns over His creation. God continually tells us: “I actively superintend My creation to achieve its intended purpose”:

 …God is King of all the earth.  God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.  The nobles of the peoples have assembled with the people of the God of Abraham. For the leaders of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted (Psalms 47:7-9).

The Designer has a plan that He actively superintends. Our Creator has made clear:

I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will (Isaiah 46:10).

Have you not heard? I designed it long ago; I planned it in days gone by. I have now brought it to pass… (Isaiah 37:26).

As I have purposed, so it will be; as I have planned it, so it will happen….This is the plan prepared for the whole earth, and this is the hand stretched out against all the nations. The Lord of Hosts Himself has planned it; therefore, who can stand in its way? It is His hand that is outstretched, so who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:24-27)

His plan is for well-being and a quality of life we have not yet fully achieved. God makes clear: “My plan is to bring the best possible well-being for My creation”:

For I know the plans I have for you…plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

God tells us about the quality of life He intends for every human in these words:

…a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:2).

Jesus, as God, described it this way:

My purpose is to give life in all its fullness (John 10:10).

God assures us: “I have created the world for My own purposes and I will insure that My purposes are implemented”:

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will. I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it (Isaiah 46:9-11).

His plans for well-being can only be achieved when we depend upon His guidance and His help.

The Role of Government. As a part of His plan, the Creator/Master Designer vested Government with great authority for the purpose of meeting needs of the people that are beyond their capacity to meet for themselves. He established this institution intending to use human beings, with their flaws, operating as His instruments in accomplishing the purposes for this institution. If there is any confusion that the authority of this institution comes from God, listen to Jesus’ exchange with the governing official who had authority over His life:

Pilate said to Him, “Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?” “You would have no authority over Me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above” (John 19:10-11).

God, through Jesus, made clear that government is even authorized to take life in the exercise of justice – God’s justice.

Government is a God-ordained institution. God created and designed Government to play a critical role in promoting a healthy society. God has instructed us:

Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.... For government is God’s servant to you for good…. the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks (Romans 13:1,4,6).

When God tells us that the quality of life He intends for every human is:

…a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:2),

He makes it very clear that Government has responsibility for this, looking at this statement in context:

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we [those governed] may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Those who operate in this institution, Government, are intended to do so as His hands and feet. They are to be His instruments operating under direction from Him.

President Abraham Lincoln expressed this truth correctly when he said:

In the very responsible position in which I happen to be placed, being a humble instrument in the hands of our Heavenly Father, as I am.

And:

I hold myself in my present position and with the authority vested in me as an instrument of Providence.

The truth is that we are in reality a servant of God and a servant of the people. We are a servant of God for the purpose of serving the people.

The application to our lives is this: If you had a subordinate who never communicated with you, how confident would you be that the subordinate was doing what you wanted? Likewise, we cannot hope to fulfil the expectations of our Master unless we are continually seeking His mind. God’s plans involve governing officials as His instruments in carrying out His plans. Hence, we must make sure we are listening to God, the Creator and active Overseer, as He communicates to us in His instruction book and through His Holy Spirit within us. The starting point is that we must make sure that His presence is with us, literally, within us, and that we have a heart to obey and implement His instructions. This relies on making sure the channel between God and us has been opened by our taking advantage of Jesus’ death for our sinful nature, and His resurrection. Jesus made this clear when He said:

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).

The reality is that Jesus’ crucifixion accomplished payment for our disobedience to our Creator that blocked the access channel to Him. And Jesus’ resurrection from death confirmed that He accomplished what He promised through His crucifixion. We must make sure we have taken this step in appropriating our Creator’s forgiveness as we seek His help and His power necessary to truly be His instrument in the lives we are called to serve. It is essential that we make sure the Spirit of God is within us in order to experience His guidance and to invoke His miraculous power. This unbelievable achievement is summarized:

He made the One [Jesus] who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Let us make sure that we have:

…become the righteousness of God in Him [Jesus] (2 Corinthians 5:21).

CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE STATESMAN:

Have I taken advantage of Jesus’ work on my behalf so that I might become the righteousness of God in Him?

Can I see myself as a servant of God for the purpose of doing His will to fulfill His plan?

If I understood myself to be a servant of God, what would I do differently?

The post The View Statesmen Hold of Government and Their Responsibilities appeared first on CENTRE FOR STATECRAFT.

William Wilberforce is one of the few that everyone views as a Statesman for his vision and the sacrifices he made to achieve it. He wrote from his vantage point:

The majority of Christians overlook, deny or, at the very least, minimize the problems of what it means to be a fallen human being.

I submit to you that the problem is more universal than Wilberforce wrote. His conclusion applies not only to insincere Christians. It is an issue that everyone of us must recognize, regardless of our religious heritage, and we must deal with if we desire to be the kind of leader our Creator intended. It is this issue that presents a challenge to governance because it impacts both governed and governors. Let us specifically consider how this issue applies to those who govern. What is this fallen nature and how does it impact the governing process? It is expressed quite bluntly, in God’s Word:

There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become useless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one (Romans 3:10-12).

Our Creator, out of His love, has given us the freedom to choose to obey His clear instructions, or not, in our decisions. All too often, we choose to follow our own desires in defiance of His way. Let us consider how this impacts the government decision-maker who would be a Statesman. Recalling what it means to be a Statesman, one of the many voices has reminded us:

A politician thinks of the next election, a statesman of the next generation. A politician looks for the success of his party; a statesman for that of his country. The statesman wishes to steer, while the politician is satisfied to drift (James Freeman Clarke).

In studying these words, as well as God’s words, we understand what is essential in our effort to operate as a Statesman. There are two natures that battle within our life continuously:

1. a God-sensitive, selfless nature that seeks to obey our Creator to do the good that He desires, and which cares about the needs of the people;
2. a selfish nature willing to collect some personal benefits as a “reasonable” perk of office.

In the definition provided by Clarke, we see clearly what is self-promoting and what is people-promoting in the difference between a Statesman and a politician.

Our Creator described what Wilberforce terms our fallen or sinful nature this way:

The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

The battle that this causes within us is described by one servant of God:

For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate…. So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me. So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me (Romans 7:15-21).

This servant of God went even further in describing the battle within:

But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body (Romans 7:23).

The net effect is that my sinful, or selfish, nature overrides any good that my better nature would wish to do:

For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want (Galatians 5:17).

As a result, I am rendered unable to do the good I desire to do. The Statesman must recognize the solution our Creator has provided for us to overcome our sinful nature:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:19-20).

We must apply Jesus’ sacrificial work on the Cross on our behalf to the issue of the deeds of our sinful nature. This, we must actively and aggressively do. We must actively take advantage of the solution He has provided for us:

If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13).

The key is the phrase “by the Spirit”. We must take advantage of the power of the Spirit of God within us to put to death the deeds of our sinful nature that would misuse the authority of office and deprive it from being used solely for the benefit of the people. It is only when we allow our Creator to put to death the desires of our human nature that literally God and Jesus and His Holy Spirit can operate through us.  This we must do with each and every decision we make – literally, multiple times per day. It is only then that we can operate as our Creator’s instrument, accomplishing what He desires. This is summarized in our Creator’s teaching through another servant:

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires (2 Peter 1:3-4).

It is only as the decision-maker relies on our Creator’s help that one can stop interfering with our Creator’s plan and operate as a Statesman. Of course, this solution can only work if the Spirit of the Living God is within us. This relies on making sure the channel between God and us has been opened by our taking advantage of Jesus’ death for our sinful nature and His resurrection. Jesus made this clear when He said:

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).

The reality is that Jesus’ crucifixion accomplished payment for our disobedience to God that blocked that access channel to God. And Jesus’ resurrection from death confirmed that He accomplished what He promised through His crucifixion. We must make sure we have taken this step in appropriating our Creator’s forgiveness as we seek His help and His power in overcoming our sinful nature in order to be His instrument in the lives we are called to serve. It is essential that we make sure the Spirit of God is within us in order to invoke His Spirit in putting to death our selfish interests.

CONSIDERATION FOR THE STATESMAN:

Have I taken the step to ensure that the Spirit of the Living God is within me in my desire to overcome my selfish nature and to govern as a Statesman?

The post The Statesman Overcoming Our Selfish Nature appeared first on CENTRE FOR STATECRAFT.

Our Creator paints a wonderful picture of what to us mortals seems like an unattainable achievement. He vividly describes the future of His Kingdom on this earth when He, through Jesus, will reign on the earth. God briefly describes that kingdom:

The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44).

And then He describes Jesus’ role:

The government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this (Isaiah 9:6-7).

That reign will be characterized by prosperity, justice and righteousness among other things. And, perfect justice will be fulfilled throughout the earth. Evil deeds will cease to be inflicted by humans upon humans. Sharing and generosity will replace selfishness and hoarding. Wars will no longer exist. The groanings of creation from human mismanagement will be no longer.

Is this so unrealistic and out of reach that it should be dismissed as unworthy of consideration? I am convinced NO. Although we live in a world of humans driven by their selfish motivations, I am convinced a proper understanding of God’s reign in His Kingdom can give us a picture of what could be achieved with the help of our Creator.

I am convinced that reflecting on the Kingdom of God causes the Statesman to gain a picture of the world as our Creator intended it to be and to work toward elements of achieving that during this era.

When William Wilberforce envisioned a world where humans have equal dignity regardless of race or social status, I am convinced it was because he had a picture in his mind of what life would be like when God took over and reigned over His Kingdom – where each person has the dignity of being created in the image of God. I believe this picture is what Martin Luther King had in his mind when he declared “I have a dream.” Rather than being a dream, I believe it was a clear picture of God’s Kingdom and of His intent for His creation. I believe that this picture is what Nelson Mandela had in mind when he dedicated his life to personal sacrifice so that the injustice of apartheid could be put away.

The dream or the picture was never perfectly achieved. Nevertheless, each of these visionaries moved us toward that picture. I am convinced that the Statesman can greatly benefit from studying this picture. The picture certainly represents our Creator’s desire for His creation, consisting of blessings which the fallen nature of mankind seeks to deprive us.

I am convinced that those we consider Statesmen have worked to improve our world based on a picture of the Kingdom of God under God’s reign. Furthermore, I am convinced that the one who would be a Statesman can greatly benefit by studying what the Kingdom of God is like and asking God how elements of that Kingdom can be approached during this age of imperfection. I am convinced that the Statesman does not plan based on what he or she can see but upon what can be envisioned while looking intently at the Kingdom of God. I personally dream of leaders looking at the Kingdom of God and committing to come as close as humanly possible to achieving that today by applying our Creator’s revealed principles.

There are several elements of implementing this: Looking at the Kingdom of God, studying it from God’s Word, envisioning it being implemented in one’s nation, and then taking the steps toward bringing it about. Let us consider the following elements:

Envisioning.  Seek to understand the picture God describes of His Kingdom:

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things on earth (Colossians 3:2).

I am sure Wilberforce, King, and Mandela had their detractors who viewed them as unrealistic idealists. Nevertheless, they saw something their detractors were unable to see.

Approaching the seemingly impossible. On one occasion, Jesus, in another context, expressed:

With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Surely, relying on the supernatural power of God to change hearts and circumstances can be expected to make a difference. God, speaking through one of His servants, reinforced this:

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Open the communication channel with the One who will reign in implementing His Kingdom. And it is important to understand that our Creator uses imperfect instruments – humans who have a sinful nature but who can have those sins forgiven through our availing ourselves of the forgiveness based upon our repentance and Jesus’ sacrificial work on our behalf on the Cross and His resurrection. The result is that we can benefit from unhindered communication between our Creator and us, including His guidance, and then His power exerted on our behalf.

Operating under our Creator’s guidance. We can only achieve our Creator’s goals when we seek to be His instruments – His hands and His feet in serving humanity. He promises:

I will hold onto you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

This requires the attitude toward our Creator on our part:

I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commands from me (Psalm 119:19).

Let us caution ourselves that any efforts during the current era must take into account that man’s fallen, sinful nature will hinder our efforts. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the more clearly we can see the Kingdom of God, the closer we can come to establishing the world that our Creator intended, with well-being for our people. And in the process, we can display the leadership of a Statesman.

APPLICATION TO THE STATESMAN

What are the major issues I am facing in building a healthy nation and how will God deal with these same issues during His reign?

Considering the fallen nature of man that I confront, how much of what I know God will do may I be able to apply?

The post The Statesman Envisions Our Nations as They Are Intended to Be appeared first on CENTRE FOR STATECRAFT.

The Statesman, I am convinced, wishes to invest his or her life in the most significant way to improve quality of life for fellow humans. For decades, I have been privileged to walk alongside Statesmen. I have been greatly influenced by listening to their hearts. As I think of the desire of Statesmen to live a life of significance, I think of a brief commentary that I read early in my adult life that has greatly impacted the remainder of my life. It is by A.W. Tozer and is entitled “On Breeding Spotted Mice”, click the button below to read:

On Breading Spotted Mice

I encourage you to read this before proceeding. This commentary describes a man who, because he was independently wealthy and did not need to work to support himself, invested his whole life in attempting to breed the perfect spotted mouse. This commentary ultimately addresses the issue of investing our lives in such a way to make the greatest contribution upon our fellow humans during the limited time we have. Interestingly, it goes beyond the impact of our earthly lifetime in making an impact. The commentator concludes that man made in the image of God must invest with eternity in mind. This, of course, begins with investing in our own eternal destiny, then, investing in other humans and their eternal destiny. Our Creator addresses this issue through one of His servants:

You are … God’s building. According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder… But each one must be careful how he builds on it. For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved [based upon having the foundation of Jesus]; yet it will be like an escape through fire (1 Corinthians 3:9-15).

Our Creator describes that we must lay a foundation for our lives, consisting of Jesus. Based upon that foundation, we build in such a way as to last or otherwise perish. We are clearly admonished to build in a way that will survive when tested with fire at the conclusion of our earthly lives. With this perspective, what should the Statesman invest in as goals? We have the opportunity to invest our lives recognizing the eternal significance of the human life. And we recognize that we are accountable for each life we are responsible for. This is where the object of our discussion failed in investing his life in breeding the perfect spotted mouse. As servants to our fellow human beings, we have the opportunity to invest in eternal beings, perhaps the greatest of all opportunities.

It is frequently worth taking stock of our lives and recognizing what goals we work toward that may be of no greater significance than this sad man’s investing in breeding the perfect spotted mouse. As beings with an eternal destiny, we want to invest our lives in efforts with eternal significance.

APPLICATION TO THE LIFE OF THE STATESMAN:

• What are the goals in my life that have eternal significance as I invest in them?
• What are goals in my life that may distract me from improving the quality of life of my fellow humans and may be akin to breeding the perfect spotted mouse?
• When I envision making life better for my fellow humans, does my concern extend to the quality of their eternal life?

The post The Statesman Living a Life with the Maximum Significance appeared first on CENTRE FOR STATECRAFT.

We all recognize that a major part of the genius of the Statesman is the ability to see into the future and to effectively plan for it – to make decisions that impact much longer than the term in office. As expressed by Edmund Burke in the eighteenth century:

The great difference between the real statesman and the pretender is that the one sees into the future, while the other regards only the present; the one lives by the day, and acts on expediency; the other acts on enduring principles and for immortality.

In other words, the Statesman does not simply plan to meet the needs of the people over the time in office and will not simply be driven by aspirations of reelection. Rather, the Statesman cares about needs that will improve the quality of life for the people long after leaving office. This represents sincere concern for the people that will make their lives truly better and not just meet needs that will briefly satisfy the people. I believe Burke’s key was when he used the phrase “for immortality”. Burke is suggesting that the Statesman operates with an eternal perspective. I want to explore with you the significance of Burke’s phrase “for immortality” as it applies to the making of Statesmen.

Let us begin by looking at the eternal perspective that can provide this foundation. When Jesus was about to have His life cut short, He encouraged His followers by helping them to see into the future:

Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going (John 14:2-4).

Jesus clearly described the reality of a future life of living in the presence of God that would be eternal in existence for those who would embrace it. We are told about our eternal body we will be robed in:

Jesus Christ … will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21).

One of God’s servants addressed the issue of looking forward to this privilege, compared to living in this earthly body:

For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring to put on our dwelling from heaven, since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment (2 Corinthians 5:1-5).

We are admonished to remember that we have an eternal existence to look forward to as we live out these short years on this earth. Then, our Creator clarified through this servant that the body in which we currently live is temporary and we must look forward to the permanent body that we will become if we will allow our Creator to do His work on our behalf. God’s spokesman then addressed how we should live as we look forward to our heavenly existence, based upon our assurance that the promise of Jesus is certain:

So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the [earthly] body we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight, and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless (2 Corinthians. 5:6-10).

God summarizes our expected response to this truth:

We make it our aim to be pleasing to [God].

I submit to you that having such an eternal view on our own lives affects the way we live each day and the decisions we make, all as we look forward to eternity with our loving Creator. We recognize that we will be held accountable for those decisions. Then consider the impact upon our decisions when we recognize that the lives of those we serve are eternal beings. We recognize that we are stewards for the well-being of these eternal beings, all of whom, we are reminded are created in the image of God and have eternal significance.

According to Burke, the Statesman acts with the future in mind, including with immortality in mind. Hence, we must conclude that our own preparation for eternity, and our keeping our focus upon it, as we go about our daily lives can impact the Statesman’s decision-making. As a part of that stewardship, we must ensure that our decisions facilitate the journey of each person under our care toward the eternal life that awaits them. Applying this reality to the life of the governing official is what, Burke is convinced, contributes to the making of the Statesman.

With this in mind, what must we do, and everyone we are responsible for, to ensure that we each have this future to look forward to? Returning to Jesus’ words:

I am going away to prepare a place for you … I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also (John 14:2-3).

We have the promise by Jesus, supported by the integrity of His character, which is clear to every thoughtful person. Then, Jesus assures us that He has clearly given us everything we need to know to receive this eternal life with Him:

You know the way to where I am going (John 14:4).

As Jesus continued this conversation with His followers, He reminded us of what that way is:

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 10:10).

Jesus referred to the one and only provision for our sin nature through His death and resurrection, which soon followed. As a result of embracing Jesus’ provision for what would otherwise lead to an eternity apart from Him in hell, we have assurance of an eternity with Him, with His Father, and with all those who have embraced this same provision.

APPLICATION FOR THE STATESMAN

As a private citizen, am I prepared for eternity, in the presence of God as opposed to away from Him in hell?

As a government decision-maker, do my decisions reflect recognition that those I am called to serve are eternal beings headed for heaven or hell and need to be treated as created in the image of God and with immense dignity?

The post The Long Term Planning of the Statesman appeared first on CENTRE FOR STATECRAFT.

The seventeenth century French philosopher Blaise Pascal described a vacuum in the heart of each human. I am convinced this vacuum has profound implications for the Statesman. Specifically, I would like to discuss with you the implications in the life of the Statesman of leaving this vacuum unfilled. Pascal’s statement is:

There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each human which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator made known through Jesus Christ.

This vacuum has implications for the Statesman personally and for the people the Statesman is called to serve. It speaks of an empty place in the life of every individual. How does this apply to the Statesman? This has great significance for the Statesman who has responsibility not only for his own life but also for the lives impacted by his decisions. Jesus made a profound statement to His close followers that provides some insight as He was, I believe, addressing an aspect of this vacuum:

Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it (Luke 10:23-24).

The reference point Jesus gave was the mysteries that the prophets in the Old Testament of the Bible spoke of – mysteries so profound that the prophets themselves did not understand that of which they spoke. The mysteries of which the prophets spoke was a work of God. Furthermore, the desire of these prophets to understand these mysteries was a work of God. God, through Jesus, was here explaining that kings also wanted to understand the mysteries of God with the same hunger as the prophets. Clearly, this interest on the part of kings, and those who serve in Government, is a special work of God.It is a special work of God in the lives of those who serve in Government because of the significance of their decisions in the lives of people they serve as a part of achieving our Creator’s plan for well-being:

That we [humans] may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2:2).

I submit to you that the two vacuums of which Pascal and Jesus spoke are closely related and have a two-fold purpose in the life of the governing leader.

First, this vacuum represents an intense effort to draw the leader to God for his or her personal sake. God loves the Statesman as a part of His deep love for all of His creation. And He cares about the quality of life and the eternal destiny for governing leaders as human beings. Jesus, as God, expressed this when He explained.

I came that they have life and have it to the fullest (John 10:10).

Jesus was clarifying that every human being, Statesman included, cannot have life to the fullest without embracing Jesus.

Second, filling the spiritual vacuum fills the vacuum of the need for understanding by the Statesman of the purpose of our Creator within His designed world order. For example, one king (David) expressed this to God:

You reveal the path of life to me (Psalm 16:11).

Then, we have God speaking to this same king:

I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel (Psalm 32:8),

leading this king to assure us:

The counsel of the Lord stands forever (Psalm 33:11).

This is tremendously reassuring to the one who must make decisions affecting the lives of the people.

God, clarifying further His intentions to one of His servants in a way I am convinced applies to each of our lives:

I am with you, … I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will hold onto you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

This promise of God holding us by the hand, leading and guiding us, is tremendously reassuring to the Statesman. When we have a personal friendship with God that fills this vacuum, He guides us along the loving path He has for us. This has immense implications for the Statesman. As a part of the vacuum we are addressing, the Statesman often does not know the decision to make in fulfilling His responsibilities and needs God to fill this vacuum in guiding him. Thus, leaving the vacuum unfulfilled has great implications for the Statesman and, especially for those he or she is called to serve, as decisions are easily made inconsistent with the good our Creator intends.

There are also implications for the personal life of the Statesman when one considers that this life is a pathway to our eternal existence – either an eternity with our Creator in heaven, or an eternity separated from Him referred to as hell.

How does the Statesman fill this vacuum? Let us return to the statement that Pascal made:

There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each human which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator made known through Jesus Christ.

Pascal, consistent with everything our Creator has taught us, made clear that this vacuum must be filled uniquely:

only by God the Creator made known through Jesus Christ.

Referring to this issue, Jesus made clear that His death is the one and only payment for the consequences of our sin nature that separates every individual from God, as He paid the penalty for us which no human is capable of paying for oneself:

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).

And the result:

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will never die – ever (John 11:25).

Each one of us must claim this payment that has already been made on our behalf by Jesus and is freely available to us.

APPLICATION TO THE STATESMAN:

Have I addressed the vacuum that God has lovingly placed in my life to remind me that I need His help?

Do I understand that leaving this vacuum empty hinders me from meeting the needs of my people as God intended?

Am I willing to humble myself and embrace Jesus as the One and only One who can fill this vacuum in my life as Pascal prescribes and has eternal consequences for me?

The post The Vacuum as It Relates to the Statesman appeared first on CENTRE FOR STATECRAFT.

What makes Government special among the institutions our Creator established to ensure an orderly society, alongside Family and Religious Institution, is the authority Government has been given. In order to properly exercise the authority of office, it is necessary to understand the authority granted to Government and to the individual officials serving within that institution. We learn in this regard as Pilate, the Roman administrator who had responsibility for dealing with Jesus over charges that He should be put to death for claiming to be God. At one point in Pilate’s questioning of Jesus, we are told:

Jesus did not give him an answer. So Pilate said to Him, “You’re not talking to me? Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You and the authority to crucify You?” (John 19:9-10)

Pilate stated that He had the authority to put Jesus to death. Jesus’ answer to Pilate teaches us:

You would have no authority over Me at all, if it hadn’t been given you from above (John 19:11).

Jesus did not dispute that Pilate had the authority to put Him to death. And Jesus, speaking as God and on behalf of the Godhead, confirmed that Pilate possessed this authority by virtue of his office. Jesus, as God, could have withdrawn that authority to Pilate in this specific case, but He chose to allow it in order to provide His payment for the penalty for our sin as the Saviour of mankind.

Elsewhere, we learn more about the authority governing officials possess, including the way it is to be viewed by both governing officials and by the people:

Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For government is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath, but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks (Romans 13:1-6).

This passage supports Jesus’ assertion that Government possesses authority, including the sword, making clear the authority to dispense corporal punishment and that this authority is granted to it from God. However, that authority is to be used cautiously, recognizing that:

Government is God’s servant (Romans 13:4).

Government as an institution is designed to serve God’s purpose for achieving a godly society with well-being for all:

so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (2 Timothy 2:2).

And governing officials are God’s servants to achieve that:

the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks (Romans 13:6).

Government is established by God for the purpose of creating a just and orderly society. Hence, an important part of that authority is to encourage good behaviour:

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For government is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong (Romans 13:3-4).

Government’s wrath over individual wrongdoing is intended to be in harmony with God convicting the individual through his or her conscience that He has implanted within us. Thus, that threat of punishment is intended to be for the purpose of creating the society and quality of life our Creator intends. Thus, clearly, in dispensing justice within society, Government is to be an extension of our Creator’s plan, with the requirement to operate under His guidance in the exercise of that authority. With the threat of punishment, there is no hint that this authority may be used for any other purpose but encouraging and enforcing good behaviour – certainly not for political power.

The people are to view governing officials as “God’s public servants”. And Government is intended to be God’s servant. As such, the people are intended to have respect for the authority that Government holds:

But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For government is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong (Romans 13:4).

The purpose of Government is not to instill fear, but rather respect for the authority and to encourage healthy societal behaviour – “for your good”. The lives of the people are to be measurably better because of the healthy exercise of this authority by Government and its public servants.

APPLICATION OF THIS TRUTH TO THE STATESMAN:

Do I recognize that the authority I exercise in office comes from God?

Do I recognize that I exercise this authority in office as God’s servant and under His guidance as His instrument?

Do the people recognize that I exercise this authority as God’s servant?

If the authority available to me in my office comes from God, should I not consult Him closely in the exercise of that authority to make sure that I am exercising that authority in a way He intends and approves?

The post The Statesman Understands the Authority of Office appeared first on CENTRE FOR STATECRAFT.

We often use the adjective “people-centered” to describe modern democracy. However, there is an element of irony here. The demands upon decision-makers in Government are so great that one has to operate by priorities. By the time the primary priorities are met, there is little time for anything other than making decisions. The irony is that in the process of making decisions that affect the lives of the common people, there is very little time left to consult the very people whose lives are impacted by those decisions, especially at the grass roots and especially the most needy. President Abraham Lincoln viewed Government as being “of the people, by the people, for the people”, a statement for which he is remembered, and which fully expressed the intent for “people-centered” governance.

The irony would be if in serving in “people-centered” governance, a decision-maker would argue that one is too busy to listen to the people. Let us consider how President Lincoln dealt with this challenge. No one can argue that President Lincoln had an easy presidency and that he carried a light load. His nation began to fall apart during the weeks between the date he was elected and the date he actually entered office, and it wasn’t until days before his death that this load finally appeared to be lifting.

Throughout his time in office, Lincoln held open office hours each morning through early afternoon where he allowed people to come to his office without an appointment. Not only, as can be expected, did many who were either in his administration or in the legislature avail themselves of this privilege, but many were common people who walked in off the street without an appointment to discuss any topic of their choosing. In the midst of immensely heavy pressures, he took time, nearly every day, to listen to the people. In fact, when he entered office, Lincoln attempted to do this for the whole day. However, this proved impractical and he had to limit the hours. At first Lincoln argued against limiting the visiting-hours:

They do not want much, and they get very little…. I know how I would feel in their place.

Thus, when he used the phrase “of the people, for the people, by the people” in his famous Gettysburg Address, he was expressing a heartfelt conviction that drove him. Where does this heart attitude come from? We have no choice but to conclude that Lincoln’s actions arose from a sincere love and concern for the people that he was called to serve and who elected him to meet their needs. Lincoln’s actions were so contrary to conventional behaviour that we need to look for what drove him. I believe they were patterned after the words of Jesus:

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).

Jesus described a heart attitude toward the sheep that the shepherd who is considered “good” by the sheep should have – going so far as to give his life for the sheep. In Jesus’ case, we know He was preparing us for the reality that He would literally give His life in payment for our sins, keeping us out of an eternity in hell. However, for those of us with responsibility for shepherding people, for example, in government, there are practical applications to our sacrificing on behalf of the sheep.

I believe this was a part of the way Lincoln applied Jesus’ teaching. When we study the way Lincoln dealt with the people he met with and listened to, we learn something else. Many of those who came to him did not come to express an opinion, but rather to seek help for issues where they had not previously been able to receive any. It is here that Lincoln showed compassion by directing them to others in government who were equipped to deal with the issue they each faced, often accompanied by personal letters from Lincoln to the official directing to provide the necessary help. Lincoln literally sacrificed the life he had at his disposal on behalf the people. He listened to their hurts, their needs, but also their advice.

Lincoln sacrificed by literally giving of his own life for the sake of the sheep. This leads to an intriguing issue. On the one hand, Lincoln’s giving of himself benefitted the sheep. Very quickly, the issue of balance arises in light of one’s responsibilities to the duties of office, even to loving oneself with God’s kind of love, and to family. The Statesman has all of these responsibilities. For the Statesman, this is exceedingly complex. Our Creator, who is the One who designed us, is the only One who can help us find this balance:

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).

However, Lincoln’s example provides a challenge to us for how we can listen to the people and best make sure we are listening to their hearts in the decisions we make.

APPLICATION TO THE STATESMAN

How confident am I that I am adequately hearing the hearts of those I am called to serve?

Would the people I serve describe my shepherding as “good”?

Is there anything I can learn from Lincoln’s example?

Is there anything I can learn from the shepherding of Jesus, as Lincoln apparently did

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