Who Rules?

After the Afghanistan Vote, with more than 7 million adults choosing their next president, now nearly 800 million Indians will be voting to choose their next Government.

As we know, even at the best of times, politics is riddled with problems. 

We all have too much evidence that, even with the best of intentions, politicians struggle to live up to the high trust placed in them. And then there is deliberate corruption and wickedness, which shows itself too often.

St. Paul has a view of political authority which comes as a shock to us, when we realise that he is living in the times of the increasingly mad Caesar Nero. 'Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.' (Romans 13.1)

Paul's understanding of the sovereignty of our Creator God underlies his conviction that over everything is God's authority. Nothing happens on this earth that does not have the permission of God. 

However, Paul is also aware that we live in a world in rebellion against the will of God, where people deliberately set out to thwart the will of God. 'For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.' (Ephesians 6.12)

In this spiritual battle, all of us are caught up in the struggle for dominance between good and evil, and that includes every politician on the planet.

St. John, in his Revelation, sets out the battle in different terms. 'Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority.' (Revelation 13.1-2)

The beast represents Roman power and authority, that ruled the whole of the world known to New Testament writers. Clearly, John's audience are left in no doubt about that the beast derived its power from the dragon, who represents Satan.

But above and beyond the power-brokers and national leaders, the Bible tells us clearly that God is the Lord and King of all.

In our own lives, we face the same choices as politicians and leaders of every nation. Will I serve God or will I serve myself? Who rules?
Best wishes,

Richard