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.

Dans l’histoire des hommes imparfaits en tant que dirigeants, un homme se démarque : le roi David de l’ancien Israël, qui a gouverné pendant 40 ans. Notre Créateur l’a décrit ainsi :

J’ai trouvé David, mon serviteur, je l’ai oint… et je le ferai… le plus grand des rois de la terre (Psaumes 89:20, 27).

J’ai trouvé David…, un homme fidèle à moi, qui exécutera toute ma volonté. (Actes 13:22).

[Le roi] David régna…, administrant la justice et la droiture à tout son peuple (2 Samuel 8:15 ; 1 Chroniques 18:14).

Au cours de ses 40 années de tentatives pour gouverner en tant qu’instrument de notre Créateur, trébuchant souvent à cause de sa faiblesse humaine, il a visualisé ce que serait le dirigeant idéal, en se basant sur ce qu’il avait appris, tout en intégrant cela à sa compréhension de ce à quoi ressemblerait le règne à venir de Jésus. Nous en apprenons davantage sur cette image composite à travers ses aspirations pour son fils Salomon qui lui succéderait sur le trône. Cela est exprimé dans le Psaume 72 comme une prière pour Salomon. En vérité, cela représente la compréhension de la part d’un homme d’État de ce à quoi ressemblerait un autre homme d’État. Explorons certaines de ces idées à partir de ce passage. Il commence ainsi :

Dieu, donne au roi ta justice, et au fils du roi ta droiture (Psaume 72:1).

Le roi David exprime la nécessité de la droiture et de la justice, la justice découlant vraisemblablement d’un comportement juste étant la base pour être un bon dirigeant – un homme d’État. Et la justice qui doit servir de base n’est pas simplement la justice humaine, mais la justice de Dieu fournie par sa purification, par Jésus. Ensuite, sur la base de cette justice, nous devons nous efforcer d’obtenir la justice par nos actions.

Le roi David réfléchit à ce à quoi ressemblera la société qui en résultera :

Que les justes fleurissent pendant ses jours et que la prospérité abonde… (Psaume 72:7).

Le roi David soutient ici que l’homme d’État, par ses politiques et ses actions, fera prospérer les personnes honorables – les cœurs purs – et non pas seulement les corrompus et les puissants, comme cela semble trop souvent être le cas. Et que la prospérité abondera grâce à la prospérité des membres de la société au bon cœur.

En outre, le roi David poursuit :

Que tous les rois se prosternent devant lui (Psaume 72:11).

Apparemment, ce respect pour l’homme d’État viendrait d’autres dirigeants nationaux par respect pour ses réalisations au service de son peuple. Encore une fois, je crois que le roi David visualise le règne de Salomon par rapport à une compréhension du règne à venir de Jésus et prie pour que Salomon règne comme Jésus le fera, en se basant sur sa propre compréhension partielle du règne à venir de Jésus.

Le roi David éclaire ensuite ce qu’il pense être certaines des motivations de l’homme d’État :

Car il délivrera le pauvre qui crie, et l’affligé qui n’a personne pour lui venir en aide (Psaume 72:12).

L’attitude du cœur comprend le sauvetage des pauvres et des affligés. À quoi ressemblera le sauvetage des pauvres ? Nous pouvons nous attendre à ce que cela aille bien au-delà des programmes d’aide sociale qui pourraient créer une dépendance à l’égard du gouvernement et qui pourraient à leur tour aider le dirigeant à rester en poste. Apparemment, avec l’aide de la sagesse de Dieu, cela entraînera des politiques qui libéreront vraiment les pauvres et les prisonniers.

Le roi David continue, nous donnant un aperçu plus approfondi :

Il aura pitié des pauvres et des sans défense et sauvera la vie des pauvres (Psaume 72:13).

« Avoir pitié du pauvre » évoque une compassion profonde et sincère qui poussera l’homme d’État à agir pour « sauver la vie des pauvres », indiquant une action forte en leur faveur. Le roi David va plus loin :

Il les rachètera de l’oppression et de la violence, car leur vie est précieuse à ses yeux (Psaume 72:14).

Le terme « racheter » utilisé ici signifie « délivrer, acheter ou rançonner, comme libérer une personne de la servitude contre paiement ». En appliquant cela à ceux qui sont pris au piège de l’oppression et de la violence, l’implication ici est que les pauvres ne souffrent pas simplement de la pauvreté, mais qu’ils sont encore plus exploités par les plus puissants en raison de leur impuissance. Par conséquent, cette déclaration implique également d’éliminer activement la menace de violence à leur encontre, car ils peuvent être incapables de le faire par eux-mêmes.

Prendre soin de la vie des pauvres et des opprimés ne doit pas être considéré comme un obstacle à la réalisation de ses grands rêves de développement de la nation. Au contraire, la vie des pauvres et des sans-pouvoirs doit être considérée comme aussi précieuse pour la nation que celle des riches et des puissants. En fait, ils doivent également être reconnus comme créés à l’image de Dieu, avec le potentiel incroyable que cela offre, et doivent être libérés pour réaliser tout ce que cela implique. Ils doivent vivre avec espoir et rêver d’y parvenir. L’implication claire ici est que ceux qui étaient autrefois considérés comme faibles et un fardeau peuvent devenir un atout solide pour la nation. D’où la motivation de ces efforts :

Car leur vie est précieuse à ses yeux (Psaume 72:14).

Du point de vue du roi David, c’est l’attitude de cœur qui anime l’homme d’État – considérer la vie de ceux qu’il sert comme précieuse et précieuse.

Tout cela nous amène à un élément souvent négligé de l’efficacité de l’homme d’État :

Que la prière soit offerte pour lui [le dirigeant, l’homme d’État] continuellement, et qu’il soit béni tout au long du jour. (Psaume 72:15).

Cela reflète le partenariat entre le peuple gouverné et le dirigeant – le gouverné faisant continuellement appel à notre Créateur pour qu’il donne des conseils, de la sagesse et de la faveur au bon dirigeant alors qu’il doit agir face à des défis qui dépassent ses capacités au service du peuple.

Cela conduit à l’accomplissement envisagé par le roi David, exprimé :

Que le blé soit abondant dans le pays… Que les gens prospèrent dans les villes comme l’herbe des champs (Psaume 72:16).

Le résultat de ce type de leadership est censé être associé à la prospérité et à l’abondance – littéralement, à l’épanouissement du peuple.

Et les conséquences pour ce dirigeant :

Que son nom subsiste à jamais ; aussi longtemps que le soleil brille, que sa renommée augmente (Psaume 72:17).

Qu’on se souvienne de lui comme d’un grand et honorable dirigeant, littéralement, d’un homme d’État. Le roi David avait expliqué comment il comprenait que son fils Salomon pouvait être considéré comme un homme d’État.

Autre point important :

Que toutes les nations soient bénies par lui et le proclament bienheureux (Psaume 72:17).

On peut s’attendre à ce que sa bonne gouvernance contribue au bien-être non seulement de la nation du dirigeant, mais aussi des nations du monde entier. On peut s’attendre à ce que les actions du véritable homme d’État contribuent en fin de compte à l’amélioration de toute l’humanité, comme nous le voyons chez des hommes d’État plus récents : William Wilberforce, Abraham Lincoln, George C. Marshall, Nelson Mandela.

Pour résumer, le roi David, l’un des plus grands hommes d’État de tous les temps, en se basant sur ce que notre Créateur lui avait enseigné sur la manière de gouverner à partir de ses propres succès et échecs, et sur sa connaissance limitée de ce que serait le règne futur de Jésus, a partagé ces perspectives sur ce qu’un homme d’État devrait faire dans son cœur et dans ses actions.

APPLICATION POUR L’HOMME D’ÉTAT

1. Puis-je vraiment me considérer comme l’instrument de Dieu dans la vie de ceux dont je suis responsable, comme le roi David a clairement compris que nous devons l’être ?
2. Dans mon désir d’être le type de leader que le roi David a décrit, que Dieu voudrait-il que je fasse ?
3. Par exemple, lorsque j’adopte l’attitude de cœur envers les pauvres et les défavorisés que le roi David a préconisée – « ils sont précieux à ses yeux » – quelles mesures dois-je prendre ?

The post Les conseils d’un homme d’État pour devenir un homme d’État appeared first on CENTRE FOR STATECRAFT.

The complexities of administering nations in this interdependent world, where actions in other parts of the world limit our options, makes us wonder whether administering nations is outside the ability of the unaided human being. Then, the thought arises as to whether the Designer of government ever intended us to be self-sufficient in administering our responsibilities by ourselves.

The Statesman understands that in this interdependent world, we face challenges beyond our abilities to solve. Furthermore, the Statesman is unique in that he refuses to be limited by his inherent abilities. As such, he is willing to confront challenges. The Statesman is continually operating beyond the capacity of any human being.

In facing this reality, it is essential to understand that Government is ordained by God for the purpose of bringing blessing to the people, and His intent is to use mere mortals to achieve that goal.

God Himself instructs mankind on the inherent inability of human wisdom:

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways … For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Our Creator intends for us to depend upon Him.  He never intended for us to depend upon our own abilities.

God’s Plans are perfect, far better than anything humanity has to offer. He declares:

 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).

He desires to make known His perfect plans to us mortals. Our Creator made this promise to one king, King David:

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

In response, listen to the confidence of that king, as he speaks to God:

You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures (Psalm 16:11).

And then he testifies to his fellow humans:

The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear Him (Psalm 25:14).

This leads King David to express to our Creator:

Let me experience Your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in You. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for You (Psalm 143:8).

And:

You lead and guide me because of Your name (Psalm 31:3).

King Solomon added more insight when he instructed us:

Think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths (Proverbs 3:6).

Receiving wisdom. So what does the Statesman do? Where does he gain the wisdom that he needs for the complex decisions necessary in governing? King Solomon, considered perhaps the wisest man who has ever lives, gave us his understanding:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10).

Those who desire wisdom must seek it from our Creator. In receiving the wisdom of God, we receive guidance from the Master Designer.

Empowering.  What is so special is that our Creator not only supplies the wisdom to face the complexities before us, but He empowers us, through His powerful hand operating on our behalf, to deal with these challenges. Listen to the assurance that He both guides and empowers:

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

And:

For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

What is amazing is that He guides us and then as we follow His guidance, He adds the dimension of His power to accomplish the end result that He desires. Thus, the one trusting Him can say:

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

What is truly amazing is the extent of His power when His Word describes:

Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20).

The power He wishes to exert on our behalf is even beyond our ability to imagine. So, the God of the Universe, who asks the Statesman to accomplish what is beyond the capacity of any mere mortal, supplies the wisdom and guidance to approach that issue, and in addition, the power to accomplish what previously appeared impossible.

This is where we must take advantage of Jesus’ death and resurrection for our sins, thereby opening the channel for us to be able to communicate with our Creator. As Jesus explained, this is the one and only way to gain access to all that our Creator, in His love, has made available to us:

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

Let us each avail ourselves of all wisdom, guidance, and empowering that our Creator makes available to us through the forgiveness for our sins that block our access to our Creator by embracing what Jesus has done for us.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE STATESMAN

1. Why would any human being want to ignore the wisdom and empowerment our Creator offers in making decisions on behalf of the people we are called upon to serve in this challenging global environment?
2. What is a specific issue that seems beyond my ability to accomplish that our Creator wants me to trust Him first for the wisdom and then for the power to achieve that goal?

The post The Statesman Is Not Limited by His Own Ability 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.

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?

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A part of the human condition is a shortsightedness that we must compete with each other so that I can only benefit at someone else’s loss. But is it really to my advantage to benefit from someone else’s loss of advantage? Is it not possible that by employing our apparent advantages, we may make life better for each other, ourselves included? Is it possible that we could have the attitude that if we all benefit, it is to everyone’s advantage? Let us reflect for a moment on our Creator’s plan. Our Creator designed our world with abundance, with the intent that every one of His creation experience a life of abundance. This is clear throughout His Instruction Manual, for example:

You brought us out to abundance (Psalm 66:12).

God created mankind as His highest achievement. In a key description of God’s created order, He informed us:

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you” (Genesis 1:26-29).

Hence, we must recognize that mankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation and that every other created thing is given to mankind for the purpose of supporting the quality of life that God described elsewhere as: “a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:2).

Thus, as we look at the supporting mechanisms that our Creator has built around us to achieve that quality of life for every human being, we must feel free to use it to benefit ourselves as a global community. However, let us also remember that when God described His creation to mankind, the words He used were: “I have given you”. We must be careful to remember that the word He used for “you” in the original language is in the plural, not in the singular. Thus, I dare not use His supporting creation in such a way that it benefits me or my people to the exclusion of other segments of mankind that God loves equally as much.

This includes my respecting my fellow humans right to fully utilize the natural resources our Creator has placed within their hands. Furthermore, this includes respecting their stewardship over those resources and their right to fully utilize those resources in a way that will benefit their people, and where possible, even my helping them in that utilization.

Let us consider Jesus’ teachings on this issue:

Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).

This teaching is so noble that it is often called “The Golden Rule”. What are God and Jesus telling us? Is it not this? ꟷ Help each other; There is enough to go around; God is big enough to meet all of our needs. Our Creator has ultimately intended for everyone to have enough, and we do not need to take away from others. Jesus clarified repeatedly:

Love one another (John 13:34; 15:12).

In other words, “care for each other”. This was expected to have practical consequences, as one of God’s spokesmen taught its application:

For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for selfish advantage, but serve one another through love (Galatians 5:13).

Can this work in the world of politics? It is with this in mind that I find the example of George C. Marshall especially inspiring. Marshall, while he was Foreign Minister, displayed the heart of a Statesman. Marshall was convinced at the end of the destructive war in Europe that it was to everyone’s advantage, the United States included, for Europe to be re-built and transformed into its full economic capacity. Through Marshall’s efforts for helping the reconstruction of Europe, he not only assisted in the creation of a giant economic engine that Europe became, but he strengthened democracy in the participating nations at a time of vulnerability, and strengthened cooperation among European nations.

Marshal’s vision was so important to him that he sacrificed his own political future by publicly vowing not to run for President so that those in the opposing political party, who controlled the legislature and the finances, would not distrust his vision and to have the best hope of their embracing his vision as apolitical. His vision for the rebuilding of Europe caused him to persuade American politicians and businessmen to make huge contributions that they were not prepared to make and which they often resisted. And yet, I am convinced that George Marshall changed the course of history when one considers the dynamics of the Cold War and the battle between the market economy and democracy on the one hand, and the centrally planned economy and communism on the other. Apart from the vision and perseverance of George Marshall, I am convinced that the history of Europe would have taken a far different course. The struggle between communism and democracy would have taken a far different path, with probably several more European nations falling to communism.

I believe that the values that motivated Marshall to commit his energy to such a vision are consistent with our Creator’s intent, which was expressed this way through one of His servants:

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh and blood? (Isaiah 58:7)

Jesus said it this way:

The one who has two shirts must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same (Luke 3:11).

Other servants of God said it this way:

The Lord of Hosts says this: Make fair decisions. Show faithful love and compassion to one another (Zechariah 7:9).

This makes for happiness among the parts, so that the parts have the same care for each other that they do for themselves (1 Corinthians 12:25).

CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE STATESMAN. Can I recognize that I have responsibility to take the well-being of people in other nations into consideration as I makes decisions as a Statesman?

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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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I believe everyone is familiar with the encounter that David had with Goliath. David was a teenager. Goliath was a 9’9” tall, seasoned, powerful warrior. Everyone knows that David fearlessly felled this giant with a pebble employing a slingshot, perhaps the crudest of all instruments. However, I am convinced that there is more to the story. When David asked to be the one to fight the giant, he repeatedly referred to “the living God”. It is worth considering what David meant by his expression “the living God”. And I am convinced that it is this perspective that is the key to his miraculous success – one that we can appropriate for our own life and service.

The phrase “the living God” is a powerful expression. The addition of the word “living” implies active and involved. From this, we recognize that David viewed God as intimately involved in the lives of His children – involved in every aspect of our lives. We may interpret that David viewed God as hearing and responding, and with compassion and power in response to his needs. God demonstrated that David’s understanding and trust were not misplaced. There is no way we can explain in human terms what David accomplished during that encounter with Goliath.

We learn more about “the living God” and His interaction with fallen man as we watch David’s ensuing life unfold. David is an anomaly to us because when he was King, he allowed his view of God to lapse when he sinned with Bathsheba. And he paid dearly for that lapse. He was disciplined severely by his Lord for his disobedience, reminding him again that our Lord is “the living God”.

Even as David responded to God as he was confronted with his sin through God’s prophet, we see his view of our Master as the “living God”:

Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithful love; according to Your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me…So You are right when You pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge…Surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within. Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of Your salvation to me (Psalm 51:1-2,5-12).

When David pleaded with God “Do not banish me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me”, he recognized that he could not take God’s presence on his behalf for granted. He understood the need for God’s forgiveness and the fact that he could not automatically expect this as a part of His being “the living God” – and certainly not as a result of our Lord being an object of worship. When David pleaded “God, create in me a clean heart”, the word he chose for “create” means not to improve something blemished or imperfect but rather to “create out of nothing”, recognizing that God would have to produce something for which there was not the raw material or a starting point within David’s life. There is nothing David could provide out of which God could create a clean heart. This would have to be a work of God alone.

Possibly, Psalm 23 is one of the tenderest songs that David wrote to God, written years after David’s sin with Bathsheba. In it, David expressed “He restores my soul” (23:3). Again, we see the view of “the living God”.

Listen to David’s heart expressed years after sinning with Bathsheba:

The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the LORD; for He laid its foundation on the seas and established it on the rivers…. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, you gates! Rise up, ancient doors! Then the King of glory will come in. Who is He, this King of glory? The LORD of Hosts, He is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:1-2,8-10)

Here, we see David expressing an intimate friendship, one that would reflect that God is “the living God”. Listen to the words of David later in his life:

A man’s steps are established by the LORD, and He takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the LORD holds his hand. I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread. He is always generous, always lending, and his children are a blessing. (Psalms 37:23-26)

These are the words of a man who experienced his Lord as “the living God” throughout a lifetime. We learn a lot from David’s life about this One who is “the living God”. He is intimately involved in our lives. He responds to our obedience to Him, and He disciplines us when we disobey Him. As “the living God”, He does not leave us to guess what He wants us to do. He makes it very clear as we call upon Him. In response, He promises to hold our hand. What more can a Statesman wish for?

David is considered to have been a good King, by God and man. He is representative of human beings with an imperfect nature desiring to do good for those he was called to serve. I propose for your consideration that his view of our Creator as “the living God” played a key part in his life and service. My challenge is for you to get to know God as David did and to have Him as your “living”, active partner throughout your life, guiding you and holding your hand.

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Our Creator paints a wonderful picture of what to us mortals seems like an unattainable picture. He vividly describes the future of His Kingdom on this earth when He, through Jesus, will reign on the earth. That reign will be characterized by prosperity, justice and righteousness among other things:

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 9:7).

Perfect justice will be fulfilled throughout the earth. Our evil enemy, who seduces us to commit evil acts, will be stopped, thereby allowing righteousness to prosper unhindered by human greed. Hence, 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, and which we could work toward.

Importantly, I am convinced that reflecting on the Kingdom of God with Jesus’ earthly reign 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 current era.

When William Wilberforce envisioned a world where humans had 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 experienced 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 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 that picture. That 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 our Creator’s reign. Furthermore, I am convinced the one who would be a Statesman can greatly benefit by studying what the Kingdom of God will be 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 can be seen but upon what can be envisioned while looking intently at the Kingdom of God. In fact, I personally dream of leaders looking at the Kingdom of God and committing to come as close as humanly possible to achieving that today.

There are several elements for implementing this: Looking at the Kingdom of God, studying it from God’s Word, envisioning it being implemented in one’s nation, and then 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).

Certainly 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).

Instilling righteousness into the larger community. Note that the key ingredient of Jesus’ reign will be righteousness, and any effort toward achieving the vision His reign inspires must include efforts toward increasing righteousness, as the critical foundation. This is frequently referred to as spiritual awakening, where individuals are challenged to embrace the righteousness of Jesus and allow His righteousness to manifest itself through members of our community. This involves a critical mass embracing Jesus as Savior from our sins. The process of that spreading of righteousness was described by Jesus in a parable:

You are the light of the world … let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16),

thereby embracing the righteousness Jesus offers. The reality is that such spiritual awakenings largely underpinned what was achieved by Wilberforce and Mandela. Let us not as mere mortals imagine that we alone can change our nations into righteous communities in our own ability.

Beginning with us. We must embrace the righteousness that Jesus offers us:

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

And we do that through accepting Jesus’ sacrificial payment for our sins:

He made the One 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).

The result of this transformation for our lives and all recruited through that spiritual awakening is:

For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).

Motivating others to participate with us. 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. And it is important to understand that our Creator uses imperfect instruments – humans who have a sin 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.

I am convinced the more clearly we can see the Kingdom of God, the closer we can come to establishing the world, with well-being for our people, that our Creator intended. And in the process, we can display the leadership of a Statesman.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE STATESMAN

Can I envision God’s Kingdom as a picture of what my society might be able to achieve with the help of God’s righteousness in my fellow human beings?

Have I led the way in creating the foundation that would allow my society to move toward the righteousness that would allow us to attempt to experience the righteousness which will underlie Jesus’ reign on the earth by embracing Jesus as my Savior?

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As we approach Easter, we are about to celebrate the greatest miracle ever. I will understand if you wish to argue that the greatest miracle was that the God of the universe entered human history as a baby born of a virgin. However, just as important to me is the miracle accomplished as Jesus gave up His life.

As Jesus was being crucified, we learn much from His interaction with the two criminals who were being crucified alongside Him:

Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at Him: “Aren’t You the Messiah? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:39-43).

The first criminal acted as if he did not believe there was anything beyond this life. He was appealing for an earthly solution. The second criminal understood, albeit imperfectly. This criminal knew he deserved punishment. In spite of the life he had lived, he clearly had sufficient fear of God to make this request. He also recognized Jesus’ nature to forgive when he implored Jesus “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” We can surmise that this criminal had a repentant heart and sufficient fear of God to be afraid of what lay ahead for him and hope that Jesus had a solution. Jesus demonstrated that He accepted the criminal’s repentance and extended grace toward him ‒ grace that the criminal knew he did not deserve in his words to the other criminal.

Let us pause to reflect on the truths behind this. The Apostle Paul clarifies the situation for us:

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

Even if, in our own eyes, we have not sinned as badly as the repentant criminal, every one of us has sinned against our morally perfect Creator. The Apostle Paul proceeds:

For the wages of sin is death (separation from God) (Romans 6:23).

However, the Apostle Paul does not stop there:

but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

 And it is this that Jesus promised to the repentant criminal on the cross.

 We know that this earthly existence is not the end of our existence. At the end of this earthly existence, we stand before God to be judged for the way we responded to Him while on this earth. As a consequence of that judgment, every human faces an eternity of intimate relationship with our Creator in heaven or an eternity of separation from Him in hell. Thus, the repentant criminal speaks for each one of us at the point of facing death and God’s judgment: “Jesus, remember me.”  We know we do not deserve the privilege of entering God’s presence. The criminal’s words show a boldness, or a hopefulness, in asking for something we do not deserve — to be forgiven and allowed into God’s presence. We need His help in overcoming this dilemma and anticipated eternal separation from Him. Thus, the power of Jesus’s words to the criminal:

I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise.

This is Jesus’ unmistakable promise of forgiveness for our acts against God – whether on purpose or even unknowingly – forgiveness not deserved but forgiveness based on Jesus paying the penalty for us through His death on the cross on our behalf. “You will be with Me in paradise.”

Apparently, the criminal did not know that Jesus’ forgiveness of him would be based on something Jesus would accomplish within moments of this conversation. But he was confident God would accomplish this miracle.

But there is one more element. Jesus said “Today.” Jesus added this nugget to the repentant criminal. Both Jesus and the criminal were going to lose the physical bodies that had housed their spirits. However, the criminal could know that the essence of his being would go on without interruption. His spirit would go immediately into the presence of God and the essence of his life – his spirit – would be uninterrupted. I realize there is a debate among Church scholars. However, Jesus – God – described us as going directly into the presence of God at the moment of the death of our physical body.

 Jesus added this promise: “I assure you.” Jesus invoked the integrity of the King of the universe to give us confidence. Is there anything that could be more assuring?

This truth sets us free! We are human beings first and foremost before being public servants. Based upon the confidence in our relationship with our Creator and our confidence in eternity with Him, we can now be free to serve His sheep. Reflecting on this promise to the criminal on the cross, this comes at an especially significant time. With the coronavirus pandemic haunting us, there are those of us who will enter eternity early. Furthermore, many who are dependent upon us will enter eternity prematurely. This is a truth that everyone needs to understand.

Let us rejoice in being set free through this promise from God Himself! And let us do as the repentant criminal, and with the same confidence:

Jesus, remember me!

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