Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - GREATNESS

GREATNESS

It seems to be the ambition of peoples and nations all over the world to seek to be great. Whether it be through wealth or power or influence; greatness seems to be the ambition of many. And, of course, much, if not all, of this is attempted through the determinations of the leaders of the countries involved.

What does make a country and peoples great? Is it the skill of the leadership or the ambitions of the people or the chance of being in the right place at the right time? Is it the right slogan e.g.: It’s the Economy, Stupid (Clinton, 1992); Yes We Can (Obama, 2008); MAGA, Make America Great Again (Trump, 2016)? [Which Greenland turned around to MAGA: Make America Go Away] But even catchy slogans don’t always cut it.

There previously was a time when men tended to follow the Bible more than their own understanding. As Proverbs states it:

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding…

(Proverbs 3:5) 

Is the world in the state it’s in at present because leadership has abandoned the above advice? Dr. Paul Brown wrote in an article some time ago:

There was a time when our leaders usually governed well 

because they accepted a clear cut responsibility to God for their actions. 

All this changed when the Christian foundation of western civilization 

began to be replaced by humanism. 

From the moment we decided man could take care of his own affairs 

without divine guidance, things began to become “unstuck.”*

A French writer and judge, Alexis de Tocqueville, wrote in 1840, after the second French revolution, when he was sent to study American society:

I sought for the greatness of the United States in [many ways; 

in her agriculture, commerce, educational systems, government, and Constitution].  

Not until I went into the churches of America 

and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness 

did I understand the secret of her genius and power.

America is great because America is good, 

and if America ever ceases to be good, 

America will cease to be great.**

It its evident that a person or a nation can have wealth which may make them fortunate but not great, or advanced education which may give intelligence but not wisdom, or military power which may cause them to be feared but not great. True greatness comes from trusting in God and knowing Him, not just knowing about Him. Scripture says to:

 

…love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 

(Mark 12:30)

…seek first the kingdom God and His righteousness… 

(Matthew 6:33)

…and both the people and the nation may become great.

Josyp Terelya was a prisoner in Soviet labour camps, prisons, isolation cells, and psychiatric hospitals for over 23 years. He suffered multiple tortures because his captors wanted to hear him denounce his Christian faith but they never did. After eventually coming to Canada, he spent 20 years travelling and spreading his Christian faith.*** His trust and faith in God made him great in many ways; and it is only by means of such trust and faith that our countries will become truly great again.

Trust in the Lord - it is really something to think about.

* The Globe and Mail April 8, 2009

**The Handwriting of God by Grant R Jeffery p.g. 38

*** Article the Evening News April 1975