“Who is in Charge?”
Don Schelske
When President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981, the White House staff scrambled to reassure a concerned world that the U.S. government was still in business. With Vice President George H. W. Bush flying back from Texas, apparently, the staff had no clear direction as to who was in the driver’s seat.
U.S. Secretary of State and retired Army General Alexander Haig walked into the press room and claimed that he was third in line according to the U.S. Constitution (mistakenly ignoring the Speaker of the House and the 25th Amendment). General Haig said, “As of now, I am in control here,” and that statement was famously paraphrased as, “I’m in charge.” That confusion was quickly resolved, but it is not the only incident of uncertainty as to “who is in charge.”
In more than 20 years as a newspaper journalist, I covered many “interesting” local political campaigns, and as citizens, we have witnessed contentious transitions of power, both national and international. Then there are cultural shifts that defy any democratic process.
Sometimes, we might observe all the confusion and wonder if anyone is “in charge.”
Revelation 20:6 says, “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”
Among the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom will be a sense of stability and peace not known since the Garden of Eden. There will be no partisan politics, no struggles for power (not even spiritual, since Revelation 20:2 reveals that Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit), and no question of “who is in charge.”
While it is exciting to think about believers “reigning with Him,” that excitement is only possible because Jesus Christ will be the ultimate authority over everyone on Earth. Philippians 2:10-11 declares, “So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Note that the word “Savior” is not included in this passage. Apparently, not everyone will have accepted the gift of salvation, but every one will acknowledge that He is “Lord.” We may rightfully feel pity for the unbelievers. Still, there will be no doubt about who will be in charge.
While it is encouraging to know the certainty of the future, it is fair for us to ask the question in the present: Who is “in charge” right now for those of us who call ourselves Christians? Who do we acknowledge as our leader? Whose laws do we follow in daily life?
Regardless of who currently holds civil leadership, and regardless of what the culture currently holds in high regard, we have a clear choice for our allegiance.
Colossians 2:6 gives the action step, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.”
Don Schelske
When President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981, the White House staff scrambled to reassure a concerned world that the U.S. government was still in business. With Vice President George H. W. Bush flying back from Texas, apparently, the staff had no clear direction as to who was in the driver’s seat.
U.S. Secretary of State and retired Army General Alexander Haig walked into the press room and claimed that he was third in line according to the U.S. Constitution (mistakenly ignoring the Speaker of the House and the 25th Amendment). General Haig said, “As of now, I am in control here,” and that statement was famously paraphrased as, “I’m in charge.” That confusion was quickly resolved, but it is not the only incident of uncertainty as to “who is in charge.”
In more than 20 years as a newspaper journalist, I covered many “interesting” local political campaigns, and as citizens, we have witnessed contentious transitions of power, both national and international. Then there are cultural shifts that defy any democratic process.
Sometimes, we might observe all the confusion and wonder if anyone is “in charge.”
Revelation 20:6 says, “Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.”
Among the blessings of the Millennial Kingdom will be a sense of stability and peace not known since the Garden of Eden. There will be no partisan politics, no struggles for power (not even spiritual, since Revelation 20:2 reveals that Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit), and no question of “who is in charge.”
While it is exciting to think about believers “reigning with Him,” that excitement is only possible because Jesus Christ will be the ultimate authority over everyone on Earth. Philippians 2:10-11 declares, “So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Note that the word “Savior” is not included in this passage. Apparently, not everyone will have accepted the gift of salvation, but every one will acknowledge that He is “Lord.” We may rightfully feel pity for the unbelievers. Still, there will be no doubt about who will be in charge.
While it is encouraging to know the certainty of the future, it is fair for us to ask the question in the present: Who is “in charge” right now for those of us who call ourselves Christians? Who do we acknowledge as our leader? Whose laws do we follow in daily life?
Regardless of who currently holds civil leadership, and regardless of what the culture currently holds in high regard, we have a clear choice for our allegiance.
Colossians 2:6 gives the action step, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.”
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