The General Election which took place on the last day of February has altered very radically the political situation in Great Britain. The Conservative and Labour Parties which have hitherto been able to command substantial overall majorities in Parliament may, from now on, have to depend on the support of other parties in order to form a Government.
There may be many reasons given to account for this new state of affairs but, to our mind, one of the main reasons is this — the failure of either of the major parties when in Government to give the moral leadership to the nation which it so desperately needed. The cause of this failure is not far to seek. Men in high places have ceased to honour God or to show respect for His laws. Consequently, God ceased to countenance them in their actions and withheld from them the wisdom needed to resolve the crisis which their own actions had precipitated. In the light of these things need we wonder although unstable government for a period of time should be the lot of our nation.
However precarious such a situation may be for the nation, let us never forget that there is a Government that is stable and sure. There is One upon whose shoulders the government is, not only the government of His Church or of one nation, but the government of the whole universe. He is King of Nations and King of Zion. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.” Is. 9: 6, 7.
As our leaders direct their energies to resolving our present difficulties, let them at the same time direct their minds to the true causes of our present ills, that is, our manifold departures from the living God. Having done so, let them resolve in the strength of divine grace to persist no longer in their former God-dishonouring course. As well as calling upon the people of the land to return to the Lord, let them return to the Lord themselves, in order that they may be enabled by His blessing to give that resolute spiritual and moral leadership so necessary for our nation in its hour of crisis.
For us, the people, our duty is clear. Let us return to the Lord whom we have forsaken. Only then can we hope for a real return to national prosperity, and only in this way will we be enabled to fulfil our duty to pray “for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty”.