Example – Being a Pilgrim

“So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.”
2 Samuel‬ ‭8:15‬ ‭NLT

We must interrupt our journey through Revelation to pause and reflect upon the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She served this country, the UK, the British Isles, and the countries that form the Commonwealth, for most of her adult life, and was even performing an official duty two days before she died. The right of a monarch to govern in the UK was removed long ago – it was replaced with a democratic parliamentary system that is very much to the fore in our Western society. But even the most fanatical of wannabe republicans in our lands have to agree that Elizabeth was a remarkable woman.

Although the monarch in the UK does not have a direct say in the day to day running and administration of the country, our Queen performed a much more subtle task – she led this country by example. She had a stable marriage, lasting 73 years before Philip died. Although her four children had some very public problems, and still do, her motherhood and leadership were there to the fore. She set very high standards and lived up to them herself.

But for me, two of Elizabeth’s most remarkable achievements are worthy of note. In matters politic, she managed to remain neutral, and politicians of all colours held a very great respect for her. They even consulted her on occasion, soliciting her opinion on matters of state and valuing her common sense and wisdom. Secondly, her faith in God was strong and immovable. It was a quiet but steady personal relationship with God that sustained her through many a difficult time. Our verse today refers to Israel’s greatest king, David. He did what was “just and right for all his people”. And Elizabeth did the same for hers.

What legacy has Elizabeth left us? We each will have our own thoughts I’m sure. For me it is the inspiration of her strong faith and how it shaped and sustained her life. And how that example shaped the lives of people, young and old, in this country.

We must ask too, what legacy we will leave our own circle of friends and family, not only when we have moved on to a new life, but in the here and now. Throughout her life, Elizabeth shaped and inspired, encouraged and advised, all those she had contact with. A combination of her own inner resources and the spiritual support from her faith in God became a beacon of strength and an example for others to follow. So in our day to day lives are we too being people others look up to? And when we pass from this life, will the epitaph on our tombstones include the words “just and right”? Hmmm…

My life is an example to many,
because you have been my strength and protection.
That is why I can never stop praising you;
I declare your glory all day long.
Psalm 71:7-8

Who can say, as David did in this Psalm, “My life is an example to many”. But how can he have the utter cheek to make such a claim after his very public and disgraceful affair with Bathsheba? Is he saying that anyone can behave in that way and it’s no big deal? Before we answer that question, it might be worth considering another similar occasion. When Peter was caught out by Jesus after denying Him, in His time of need, not just once, but three times. We can read the passage in Matthew 26. This wasn’t just a private occurrence – Peter made his denials publicly in front of a group of people. And we can read in John 21 how the risen Jesus took Peter through repentance to becoming a rock, on which Jesus said He would build His church.

So back to David. He also repented of his terrible sins and received God’s forgiveness. There are no sins that God will not cleanse us from. We have not done anything so bad that Jesus will refuse to pardon us. And like David, we too can be an example to many. In our communities we can be an example to our friends and neighbours, and by our lives we may the only glimpse of Jesus that many people will ever see.

Those of us who have repented of our sins can stand before God wearing the righteousness of Jesus. How do I know? The Bible says so in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God“. So if God declares me righteous, as He did with David and Peter and countless others, I too can be an example to many. I have blogged before about the Pastor of a church in Glasgow, who was a drug dealer, imprisoned for his crime, saved through the ministry of Teen Challenge, and who returned to the very community in which he dealt drugs as their Minister and Pastor. I’m sure, at least initially, the community scoffed at him, as they did with Jesus when He preached in His home town of Nazareth. But the reformed drug dealer is now an amazing testimony to the grace of God. Like David, he too can say his life is an example to many.

And so the challenge to us is this – as reformed sinners can we too be examples to those around us, telling about God’s strength and protection, and declaring His glory all day long? A thought for today?