Some call me crazy, but I’m going to celebrate Independence Day with 55,000 other runners at the Peachtree Road Race. There’s something about the power of people getting together and accomplishing something that deeply inspires me. (The awe of the masses will keep me happily humming along each step of the 6.2 mile course, right?)
“Power of the people” is something that Americans highly value. We believe in free speech and the right to choose our leaders. Ours is not a perfect system – have you forgotten the manual recounts and hanging chads in the Presidential election of 2000? – but it is a system we love and will defend.
It is sobering to know that many people throughout the world have yet to be heard. Today, brave men and women of Iran are gathering in the streets, in a display of solidarity against an authoritarian regime. They want a voice, and they want their votes counted. Some, quite sadly, are casting a final vote with their lives.
As proud to be an American that I am, and as much as I pray for democracy to spread, these verses in Luke remind me that there is something much higher than some of these ideals.
The people did not choose this leader. The people complained and resisted. The people came together in numbers to protest. Yet, this man was chosen. This man was given the crown. This man returned in power.
The truth is that the man was going to be king whether the people wanted it or not. As a believer in the absolute truth of Christ, I know mankind, too, has a king who will return, and his name is Jesus. I know one day that every knee shall bow to him. This is not democracy. This is the absolute truth.
I value democracy and power of the people. I value justice. I value “what I want.” Yet, I see that absolute truth trumps democracy. Absolute truth trumps my thinking. Absolute truth is the only thing, in the end, that will stand.
June 30th, 2009 - 8:33 am
AMEN! This is a great reminder for me.
I am a news junky. Lately I find myself chomping against the bit when it comes to current political and world news. I’ve caught myself describing our current world situation like a cloud that is looming overhead… like the world is wobbling on its axis. But when the truth-be-told, what else should I expect? We are a fallen world in need of a redeemer.
Ultimately Jesus IS the truth and He reigns.
June 30th, 2009 - 10:01 am
Thank you for sharing today.
When I get confused, it is teh one truth that I look for, it is Jesus. We use the phrase one version of the truth at work, it isa goal that we strive for. We are far from there at this point.
Thank you God that I have one version of the truth in you.
June 30th, 2009 - 12:39 pm
Amy, that is a great devotional! Thank you for sharing and for putting it so beautifully!
June 30th, 2009 - 2:05 pm
Thanks Amy for sharing this! It seems that I sometimes get so caught up in the news of today that I forget the big picture: Jesus reigns and he’s coming back! Thanks for refreshing my vision of the future and the truth
Have fun in your race!!