Avalon Chronicles #70: "Fallen From Grace"

Avalon Chronicles #70: "Fallen From Grace"

by Allen B. Clark              allenbclark@aol.com
www.combatfaith.com      www.combatfaith.blogspot.com

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." I John 2:16 (KJV)

     Linda and I are five episodes of ten through a new Netflix series, "The Crown," relating the stories of the United Kingdom's current royal family. Of course, there is related the abdication of Queen Elizabeth's uncle due to the desire to marry a twice-divorced American, the flirtations of Princess Margaret with married Group Captain Townsend, political machinations in the premiership of Winston Churchill, and tradeoffs at the highest levels of the British Empire. Presumably, ahead for our viewing "pleasure," are the shenanigans and falling from grace of Prince Charles, Prince Albert, Princess Anne, divorces, and the "mysterious" death of Diana. However, I am struck by the "dignity" of the life of future Queen Elizabeth II and her father, King George VI. One of the most poignant scenes is that of her father rehearsing with a young Elizabeth, prior to his own coronation, the sacred anointing with oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury by the application to the forehead, the heart, and the palm, (the soul, the spirit, and the body) with the sign of the cross. Episode five ends with the same ceremony for the new queen in Westminster Abbey. This all represents assuredly the merging of church and state in what was once the most powerful position in the world.
     Our Declaration of Independence and Constitution make clear our own founding was based upon separation of church and state. Our nation originally was founded by "escapees" from the intolerance of the Church of England. These adherents of a sincere belief in our God ruling their lives came upon our shores for freedom from the monarchies and oppressions of Europe. Our colonists picked up pitchforks and muskets and succeeded in our Revolution with securing freedom from the ancestors of the royalty of "The Crown." Who cannot be reminded of the dignity of a George Washington, becoming our first president, a leader in a position, which arguably would eventually be considered the most powerful position in the world, the leader of our own American Empire?
     On November 8, 2016 we again will pick from one of two candidates to become our president, the most powerful position in the world. Whereas our examples have been the dignity of a George Washington and a Queen Elizabeth II, we are confronted today in our election with claims, counterclaims  and charges of "misogyny, liar, abuser, criminal, divorced, corrupt, treason, traitor, sexting, illegitimate son, lesbianism, 'orgy island,' temperamental, 'play for pay,' obstruction of justice, coarse language, illegal contributions." Have I missed anything? Ah, yes, add "murder, adultery, pedophilia, bribery, access peddling, a porn star, nude modeling!" It is sickening! How far have we "Fallen From Grace?" I am distinctly saddened and appalled at the depths to which the standards of our Lord, that He has laid out for us in no uncertain terms in the Holy Scriptures, have descended! Americans will wake up on November 9, 2016 and almost half will be devastated at the choice determined and a few more will be elated that their candidate won. However, our great America, the land of the free because of the brave will have lost and "Fallen From Grace."
     What can we as individuals do? Where does this election put us? It puts us individually to aspire to seek the example of the words of John in Revelation 1:6 (KJV):

"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever." 

     Admittedly this was written to describe what we are to be in eternity in the Kingdom of God, but I submit we can strive to reflect this in our lives today. The Abingdon Bible Commentary (Abingdon Press 1929) footnotes the passage thusly,"...Individually they are priests having access through His Blood into the Holy of Holies, offering living, reasonable, and spiritual sacrifices, making intercession for all men." The intercession must be extended by us to all in authority. They need it!
The footnote in (KJV) for Hebrews 13:15 indicates, "A sacrifice of praise today would include thanking Christ for His sacrifice on the cross and telling others about it."
     As citizens of this great land, America, with our magnificent contributions to the world and with the majority of us striving mightily to live by standards in our faith and to reflect dignity, we must pick up where the political world has let us down. In the 1980s I attended a Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge dinner in Dallas, honoring a Highland Park school teacher. I recall only one thing she said, "If it is to be, it is up to me." We each have a responsibility to speak positive words and to be loyal to God. We can be part of a Second Revolution, a spiritual one. The question I ask myself is, "If not I, who? If not now, when?"
     This is a worthy prayer: "In the Name of Jesus, I commit myself from this day forward to live by the Word of God, to live by my faith, and to live by the love of God." The country is pretty far gone, but we need not personally be so!!! We can, in military parlance, "Prep the landing zone," to be prepared for Christ's return.