A new American President

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: A new American President

This country has recently experienced the election and inauguration of a new President. As is often the case, much has been made of this. While supporters of Barak Obama feel a great thing has come to pass, and eagerly look for good things to happen; opponents feel the opposite, fearing that our country is rushing headlong towards disaster. The same sentiments have been experienced and espoused after each election cycle for as long as I remember (I'll soon be 59 years old). I suppose there is some merit to both sides' feelings. I personally believe we are heading downward at a swift pace, but I would like to call to all of our remembrances a simple, yet profound, fact. It is important who sits in the Oval Office of the White House, for that person holds awesome authority and power. Also of great importance is who is seated as leader of Russia, Germany, Japan, China, Israel, England, Canada, and several other countries. Although each and every one of those leaders can do great good or harm, they have One Who is over them all. We need to remember Who is seated on the true seat of power and authority. This One is never "unseated" or replaced because of an uprising or election! His "platform" is never changed, no matter which party seems to be in power!

I would like to use the following verse to illustrate that fact. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1 KJV) Uzziah had ruled over the southern kingdom of Israel for about 52 years. During that time, he had accomplished many good things, and God blessed the people; he was a great king. Notice that Isaiah "time-marked" this vision he experienced by stating it occurred "in (during) the year King Uzziah died." That shows this death was a major event in the lives of Isaiah and his fellow countrymen. it affected them greatly, much as we feel this President's taking office will do. The death of the king stood out over every thing else that happened that year. To show how this would effect Isaiah and Israel, consider these facts about Uzziah, taken from "Bible topics in the Christian Library": (a) Early in his career he was victorious over all enemies. He strengthened his kingdom and improved the economic status of his nation, (b) An interesting fact about Uzziah is revealed in 2 Chronicles 26:15. The King was an intelligent military tactician. He was able to conceive and construct weapons. He became famous for these inventions, (c) He was a superb organizer and his fame spread even to the Egyptian Dynasty, (d) During his monarchy the nation enjoyed a bright spot in the world’s history, (e) There cannot be a better success story than King Uzziah. Tragically his biography does not end on the note of success but of failure. Instead of being buried in the sepulcher of the Kings in Jerusalem, he was buried in a field outside of the city. One would expect a marvelous accolade to be chiseled into the grave marker of Uzziah. However, the eulogy is stated with four simple words, “He is a leper.” You can see where his passing would have been a momentous occasion in Isaiah's life, just as many consider Obama's becoming our President. Things in Isaiah's life were going to change, just as they will in ours, but Isaiah 6:1 reminds us of the most important fact, leaders may change on earth, but the true leader stays the same; God always remains on the throne!

To show this fact is considered important by God consider this, "Isaiah was not alone in seeing God's throne. Almost everyone in the Bible who had a vision of heaven, was taken to heaven, or wrote about heaven spoke of God's throne. The prophet Michaiah saw God's throne (1 Kings 22:19), Job saw God's throne (Job 26:9), David saw God's throne (Psalm 9:4 and 7, 11:4), the Sons of Korah saw God's throne (Psalm 45:6, 47:8), Ethan the Ezrahite saw God's throne (Psalm 89:14), Jeremiah saw God's throne (Lamentations 5:19), Ezekiel saw God's throne (Ezekiel 1:26, 10:1), Daniel saw God's throne (Daniel 7:9), and the Apostle John saw God's throne (Revelation 4:1-11). In fact, the book of Revelation may as well be called "the book of God's throne," because God's throne is specifically mentioned more than 35 times in that book." (Taken from David Guzik's commentary on Isaiah.) No matter who purportedly occupies the seat of power and authority in our respective countries, God remains the true "King of Kings and Lord of Lords!"

We do experience some changes as new leaders assume command of our various positions of authority, but it will bless your spirit to remember that our God above never relinquishes His power and authority. Yesterday, today, and forever, HE remains on the ultimate throne! Unlike the personalities and beliefs of our varying leaders, our God remains the same. As Scripture says of Jesus, HE is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords! That is "present perfect" tense, meaning " no matter when the "present" is, at that point HE is King of Kings and Lord of Lords; always, past, present, and future! Never fret, fear, or fume, believer, for as the song says, "Our God reigns!", not Obama, Bush, Clinton, etc., or any other person in position of leadership. God is the leader! God rules! God reigns! I, and you, can relax in the fact that the true leader over all is our Father. That, and HE, never changes! Amen, and amen!!!