In our lives whenever we strive in faithfulness and obedience to God to be good, the devil is there to deceive and destroy.
I am constantly overwhelmed and humbled by the godliness of the Editorial Team’s Editorials revealing the awful truth of the unfaithfulness, disobedience and – yes – treason as seen in [1]: “In June 1975 at the first Referendum on Britian’s membership of the then EEC – two and a half years after the Heath Administration took the United Kingdom in European bondage undermining the historic and unique British Constitution…”
In this same Editorial Dr Coggan argued: “…that economic regeneration had to be accompanied by moral regeneration…” This ‘moral regeneration’ has been what faithful Covenant Nation Britain has been ministering for centuries – notably the past 470 years. This, gloriously seen in the Book of Common Prayer 1662 (viz BCP page X).
“…There was never any thing by the wit of man so well devised, or so sure established, which in continuance of time hath not been corrupted: As, among others things, it may plainly appear by the Common Prayers in the Church, commonly called Divine Service. The first original and ground whereof if a man would search out by the ancient Fathers, he shall find, that the same was not ordained but of a good purpose and for a great advancement of godliness. For they so ordered the matter, that all the whole Bible (or the greatest part thereof) should be read over once every year; intending thereby, that the Clergy, and especially such as were Ministers in the congregation, should (by often reading, and meditation in God’s word) be stirred up to godliness themselves, and be more able to exhort others by wholesome doctrine, and to confute them that were adversaries to the truth; and further, that the people (by daily hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church) might continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the more inflamed with the love of his true Religion…”
The glorious Godliness of the above Book of Common Prayer quote has been ignored by unfaithfulness and disobedience, as mentioned, since 1975 (in fact since 1958). Thus, I reason my heading above ‘Covenant Nations Hope and Future in Jesus’ Glory’. This is not to do with any glory in ourselves – our Covenant Nations.
Not even our Lord Jesus focused on His own Glory. Remember John recorded Jesus’ words:
John 8.50 & 54
“I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.”
In the above quote from the Book of Common Prayer, the descriptions “so sure established” and “not been corrupted” highlight the Godly purpose of the Book of Common Prayer Divine Service which benefits all people through the daily reading of Holy Scripture. The Book of Common Prayer 1662 is still the basis of Covenant Nations services today, although subsequent prayer books have allowed Anglo-Catholic traditionalism after the 1960’s to replace the evangelical truth – something which would not have happened as those in error, the Service would ‘confute them that were adversaries to the truth’. Again, as the Editorial highlighted there is an urgent need in Covenant Nations for ‘moral regeneration’. Elders in all Covenant Nations who may feel ‘retired’ need to be ‘refired’ remembering the heights from which we have fallen – and to love our ‘first love’ Jesus. Here let us remember Jesus’ Glory is the excellence of His Being, namely his attributes and perfections. Our hope and future is in Him only – remember God’s promises:
2 Corinthians 1.18-20
“But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”
Further, on the Thursday before Good Friday Jesus looked to Heaven and prayed as John records:
John 17.1-5
After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
In our Covenant Nations we see that it is not to do with our ‘glory’ but rather, as Covenant Nation Britain has done for centuries, acknowledging Jesus’ Glory – being subject to ‘The Empire of Christ’ as in the Coronation Service. Our Covenant Nations need to repent and ask Almighty God to release us from the ‘bondage’ mentioned in the Editorial: (any) “…bondage undermining the historic and unique British Constitution…” Further, the bondage reminds me of the bondage referred to firstly in our Old Testament truths about our hope and our future. From Proverbs:
Proverbs 23.18
“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”
This is confirmed in the Psalms:
Psalms 9.18; 37.1-4
“But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish…”. “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
In our Covenant Nations we constantly pray for spiritual revival as did Jeremiah when prophesizing:
Jeremiah 29.11-14
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the “Lord: “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord , “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back…”.
Also from Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 31.16-19
This is what the Lord says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your future,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land. “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. After I strayed, I repented…”
I pray in all our Covenant Nations we will turn our eyes to Jesus – again truly making His Glory known.
This reminds me of all He has done for us – giving us hope and a future now and eternally. I remember being amazed the first time I learnt of the following: The Apostle Peter was speechless when Jesus revealed His Glory. His revealing began when Jesus asked who people said He is. Peter replied that Jesus is the Christ. Then Jesus made His first prediction:
Mark 8.31
“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.”
At this Peter rebuked Jesus as he did not understand Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for the believer’s sins. Almighty God required a perfect sacrifice.
Please hold the thought on our hope and our future above whilst I comment further on God requiring a ‘perfect sacrifice’. Remember that Jesus’ atoning sacrifice covers the sins of the believing remnant of the Old Covenant and the believing Gentiles of His New Covenant being grafted into the House of Israel:
Romans 3.25-26
“God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. He did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Hebrews 9.11-12
“When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.”
Hebrews 9.24-26
“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
Continuing on then we see bewilderment and wonder when Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain and is transfigured – changed. Mark records:
Mark 9.3
“His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.”. Similarly, Luke records: “As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.”
(Luke 9:29) and Matthew records:
Matthew 17.2
“There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.”
In this truth Jesus revealed His Glory which He had left aside when being born in His Second Nature, His Humanity. This Glory demonstrates His Lordship over the Old Covenant and His New Covenant. For centuries our Covenant Nations were trusting Him – where are we now? Moses and Elijah appeared with Him on the mountain. Moses was the Old Covenant lawgiver and deliverer from ‘bondage’. Elijah represents the Old Covenant prophets, linking to a ‘new Elijah’ – John The Baptist who prepared the way for a ‘new deliverer’ from ‘bondage’ and all things evil – Jesus.
Covenant Nation Britain has been truly faithful to Jesus for centuries past as we have seen; but from 1958 – 1975 and to today, as the Editorials report, Covenant Nations are slipping into a new dark age. We need to remember John recorded:
John 1.14
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John actually saw Jesus’ Glory. Peter did also:
2 Peter 1.16-20
“We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.
May we all be encouraged that Almighty God loves us so much, encouraging our hope and future in Jesus’ Glory. I remember the Hymn (vs 1 & 5)[2]:
God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power;
crown Thine ancient Church’s story;
bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom,
grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour.
Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore;
let the search for Thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom,
grant us courage,
Serving Thee whom we adore.
Will Covenant Nations repent and allow the light, the radiance of Our Lord Jesus to shine in our darkness? When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said:
John 8.12
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
[1] Covenant Nations Volume 5 No. 5 Pg 5
[2] H E Fosdick (1878-1969)