Reflections on referendum and Bible 6/10/14
Sirs,
Although the referendum result over Scottish independence is known to everyone, it is quite evident that many disgruntled folk in the ‘yes’ camp are clearly unhappy, because the vote went against them. It has left SNP politicians in disarray. The devastating defeat was too much to bear for Alex Salmond, so he quickly resigned as First Minister. Other nationalists are still bickering and squabbling over the vote, unable to accept that Scotland has said ‘no thanks’ to independence. Many even in the ‘no’ camp are getting restless over what type, and how many, chocolate sweeties politicians at Westminster are going to offer Scotland for remaining within the Union. Yes, on both sides, many are wondering whether all the devolution powers, pledges, promises will really be fulfilled and given at the end of the day. All these uncertainties, along the 1,001 unanswered questions, is causing much turmoil and commotion amongst ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campers across the country.
Since the independence count, I couldn’t help but reflect on contrast the blessing that Scotland would undoubtedly enjoy if people across our grand little nation said ‘YES’ to the free offer of the gospel and ‘YES’ to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The absolute truth of the Bible leaves us in no question about this certainty: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12) In Genesis 22:18, and various other portions of the Bible, we are also reminded how a nation is blessed beyond measure when it obeys God’s voice and word. Yes, God’s unchanging promise to every soul in Scotland, who repents and believes the gospel, brings bliss beyond compare. To them all, He gives the personal assurance that “whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20) and “whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)
What glorious pledges and promises that can unquestionably be relied upon when we lay hold of them by faith. Unlike politicians, God never twists His words, plays mind games or causes any confusion. No, God never plays mind tricks: He means what He says and He says what He means. A wise ancient Christian father once said “God’s promise is better than any bond or note on any bank, financial institution, or most stable government, for all these may have to repudiate their bond; God never does so.” How different to the pretend promises of Alex Salmond. In the poetic words of Isaac Watts:
Proclaim salvation from the Lord, For wretched, dying men;
His hand has writ the sacred
Word, With an immortal pen.
Engraved as in eternal brass, The mighty promise shines;
Nor can the powers of darkness
rase, Those everlasting lines.
He that can dash whole worlds to death, And make them when He please,
He speaks, and
that almighty breath, Fulfils His great decrees.
His very word of grace is strong, As that which built the skies;
The voice that rolls
the stars along, Speaks all the promises.
The many ‘wrongs’ which people were allegedly guilty off -
When we say ‘YES’ to the good news message of the gospel, all the ‘wrongs’ are replaced by the amazing grace of God. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin!” (Ezekiel 36:26 & 1 John 1:7).
An independent Scotland may or may not have wanted to ‘cut out’ our Christian heritage, but we rejoice that God does not want to ‘cut us off’ from a relationship with Him or ‘cut us out’ from heaven. Just as we were given a choice on how to vote at the count box, so God is inviting us to vote on a far great and weightier matter then independence. It concerns our soul and eternal destiny: choose you this day whom ye will serve. God is calling us to choose life, with the promise “whosover shall call upon on the name of the Lord and be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Donald J Morrison
85 Old Edinburgh Road
Inverness
Letters should be sent within the body of an e-