Great Britain has made the headlines again. In September the world watched with admiration the spectacular pageantry of the funeral of Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch; in October the world has watched with perplexity the resignation of Liz Truss, the country’s shortest-serving Prime Minister.
The Bible says ‘Let every person be subject to the governing authorities’ (Romans 13:1), and ‘Honour the king’ (1 Peter 2:17). It’s not my intention to criticise politicians who are working hard in a desperately difficult situation. But by way of comfort to anyone who is feeling depressed about the whole affair, here is the Bible perspective:
God is in control. He is working in the background in the affairs of the world, directing it towards the fulfilment of His purpose: ‘The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men’ (Daniel 4:17).
Which is hugely comforting, when you think about it. Our future is not in the hands of politicians, warlords or any other world leaders. It’s in God’s hands. ‘Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them’ (Psalm 146:3-6).
And God has shown us what the world is heading for. He is not going to let the world collapse. It will get bad, but one day soon He will step in. The Bible abounds with prophecies about the Kingdom of God which will be established when Christ returns, and it also tells us what the state of the world will be immediately prior to his return: ‘people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory’ (Luke 21:26-27).
These are worrying times. But in the same prophecy Jesus Christ reassured his followers: ‘Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near’ (Luke 21:28).
Chris Parkin