What a great summer it has been! First, the Olympics, next the Democratic National Convention, shortly the Republican Convention. Although political conventions and sports events don’t seem to have a lot in common, perhaps because of them occurring back-to-back, or maybe because of the venue of the Olympics being in China, I found a common thread that you might not typically consider – false promises.
The Chinese government, not known for its honesty and fair treatment of the average citizen, out did itself in the Olympics. In a future blog I will use more of that detail, but today I want to highlight one particular incident.
The August 21 issue of the New York Times ran an article titled “Too Old and Frail to Re-educate? Not in China” about two seventy-year-old women sentenced to “re-education through labor” for applying to hold a legal protest in a government-designated area. Note: their crime was for APPLYING for government approval to protest. They did not protest. The Chinese government told its citizens that they could protest during the Olympics, but only in a particular area and only after written approval from the government. Then they arrested two feeble old women for applying for approval to protest.
I wish I could say that a government that does just the opposite of what it promises was a unique thing. I wish I could say, “Well, you’d never find this type of ‘bait and switch’ tactic in the USA.” While it is true that American’s have an unparalleled right and ability to protest when, where and how we want, the connection here is that even the US government cannot be trusted to always keep its word or honor its promises either.
Who can you believe? Who can you trust as a leader?
As I watched the Democratic Convention and listened to the speeches, I was very much impressed. The words and delivery showed that among the group were some great orators. The crowd was rallied, encouraged, uplifted, stirred to action, etc. I was impressed with their words. I’m looking forward to more great speeches and inspiring words from the Republicans.
With the nomination of a black man as Democratic presidential candidate and the nomination of a woman as the Republican vice presidential candidate, it is going to be an exciting election process if nothing else. Should be good, clean fun to watch; but I don’t intend to get suckered in by what they actually say.
I’m not judging the intent of the candidates or the politicians that support them. I’m certainly not judging the intent of the delegates. I’m just saying, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” There is only one leader who can be trusted to do 100% of what He says He will do. There is only one leader who CAN follow through with all intents and promises, and that leader is God.
Jesus Christ, when He walked on this earth in human flesh, was the only human being whose words and actions always perfectly aligned. More importantly, He is the only one who will ever bring about the kind of world-changing government, the world-wide peace, the universal prosperity and the return to a Garden-of-Eden environment that He promised. It is in Jesus Christ and God the Father that we must put our trust. It is in them that we can put our faith. They are the leaders to believe and follow.
A new world order. Real change. Peace. Freedom. Prosperity. None of these things will be achieved, no matter what government leaders and leader-wanna-be’s promise, until Jesus Christ returns to the earth and establishes God-rule, God’s government and Himself as King of kings and Lord of Lords. There is no debating that!
Thankfully, we have the Fall Holy Day season right around the corner – with the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day – to remind us that the only true government “for the people” will not be a government “by the people” but will be the government of God established on this earth. God speed that day!
With love,
Nancy