[mukk_in]

Greetings dear friends in the blessed Name of our Lord Jesus. Let me start this letter by wishing all of you a blessed and prosperous New Year. As you begin a new year, I want you to think about who it is that you are serving and whom you consider to be your true ruler. Don’t get me wrong, for the Bible declares that all authority is God ordained (Romans 13:1-2). But it doesn’t declare that all authority is blessed by God. If that were true, one would have to consider Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini to be God ordained as well. This brings up another issue. In all the so called democracies, why are people so discontent with their elected representatives even after voting them to power? The answer lies in the fact that there is but one true, just and fair authority that can never go wrong. He is the Lord Jesus.

The text for my letter today is from Hosea 13:9-11. God Almighty is speaking to the nation of Israel through His prophet Hosea. This was not the first time that Israel sinned by asking God for a king. In 1 Samuel 8, we see the Israelites rejecting the old prophet Samuel (of course, his sons were decadent) by asking God for a king. God then reminds Samuel that it was not him, but Himself that was rejected (1 Samuel 8:7). God also warned that the king they asked for would bring destruction on them (1 Samuel 8:9). Is this much different from our situation today? Democracy, both direct and indirect, is a system started by men who interpreted the Bible in their own way. The aristocracies of both Israel, and modern world are also distorted as they start with same malaise as in 1 Samuel 8. Before kings, queens and democracies, Theocracy (or a God centered and direct God rule) was maintained by the Lord through His prophets. For example, God governed His people through His prophets like Moses (Exodus 3:7-10), Joshua (Joshua 1:1-5), Deborah (Judges 4), Gideon (Judges 6), Samuel (1 Samuel 3:11-14). Presently, theocracy is established in our churches through apostles, prophets, priests, pastors, teachers, etc. (Ephesians 4:11).

When people decide to choose for themselves, then God Almighty relents as He did with the Israelites. But the result is normally destruction (Hosea 13: 9). Even the best and finest of all God ordained authority proves to be corrupt in the end (2 Samuel 12:7-13). God also takes this rejection personally by saying that nations that don’t trust solely in Him, are actually against Him (the Helper) (Hosea 13:9). God is calling upon nations today and challenging them to deliver themselves from the economic recession, global terrorism, famine, pestilence, AIDS, etc. God is questioning whether our elected representatives are able to deliver us from peril (Hosea 13:10). There is a saying, “be careful of what you ask for, you just might get it.” In His wrath God is allowing nations to choose leaders, presidents and authorities for themselves. But in His anger He is also removing them (Hosea 13:11).

Who is your ruler today? The Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed to be the ruler of the universe (Psalm 2:9, Rev 2:27) in the bible. After His supreme sacrifice, God exalted the Lord Jesus to be the King of the universe (Matthew 22:24). Sooner or later, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:8-10). So why not confess your sins to the one true king and become His friend? Peace.