Hope fills the nation after the March 8 election. However, for some, this hope has slowly eroded to nagging fear with the unfolding of volatile events that have come upon the country wave after wave soon after the “tsunami”.
From crises with the Royalties to internal spats within the political parties and widespread rumours of a potential change of government, our nation has probably never seen such suspense in its 50-year history. Malaysians wake up each morning wondering what seismic event will hit the day.
During the pre-election period, Malaysian Christians have prayed intensely for the election of upright, just and caring leaders. While we humbly rejoice with God’s affirmative response to our prayers, let us be careful not to be triumphalistic, as if we have finally reached the end of a long road.
No, the road ahead is still long and winding. Let us continue to pray against the tentacles of corruption and injustice that our newly-elected leaders (some of them, at least) – so desirous to do the right and just things – will have to fend off as they carry out their duties.
Many are hopeful that the political change will help to establish our nation, but we have to accept that issues of justice, social ills and corruption – consequences of human weaknesses – will continue to plague us. After all, we live in a tainted world system ruled by the Prince of darkness.
It will therefore be naive to expect all the wrongs righted in a short span of time. Or to make the mistake of putting all our hope on man to solve all our woes, just like the Israelites did in the time of Prophet Samuel (1 Sam. 8).
Samuel was old and had made his sons judges in the land. Unlike Samuel, “his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.” (1 Sam.8:3).
Disillusioned and embittered (and rightly so), the people pressed for a king to rule over them. They were insecure about the future because Samuel was old, and they had no confidence in his immoral sons.
Were they wrong to feel insecure? Surely not. But did they err in asking for a king? Scripture says they sinned in so doing because when Samuel told God about it, He replied, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.”
God was displeased with the people because at the heart of their demand was their rejection of His rule over them. But one may argue that they were only rejecting Samuel’s sons, and quite correctly, for they were a corrupt lot. However, God saw their tainted motive deep in their hearts. They used Samuel’s sons as a cover-up. In truth, they wanted to be like the other nations which had kings.
A king, not God, would give them the mental security and peace they craved for. Even after Samuel warned them about the grave prospects of family break-ups and the oppression that the king would inflict, they persisted with their demand.
They placed all their hope on one man – a king.
Fast forward to the New Testament just before Jesus’ birth. The Israelites were labouring under the tyrannical Roman rule and wearily looking for a saviour, a Messiah to deliver them from King Herod.
Luke 2: 25–32 recorded the story of Simeon, a just and devout man who was waiting for the “Consolation of Israel”. While the people around him were anticipating a human king to deliver them from the pit of despair, Simeon – who had the Holy Spirit (vs 25) – knew better.
What was truly needed was deliverance from spiritual darkness. The intense social oppression, economic depression and moral decay that plagued the Israelites were a result of sin, which lies at the root of all evils.
Recognising this, Simeon uttered as he took baby Jesus into his arms, “For my eyes have seen Your salvation…A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel” (vs 30, 32). Simeon saw with spiritual eyes that Jesus was the author of comfort, the One who could bring true salvation and hope to all mankind.
We echo the words of Simeon that Jesus is the “consolation of Malaysia”. This is not to say that we just preach Jesus and do nothing else, for word and work must go together (see Chairman’s message on pg 2). But let us not be beguiled into putting our hope on man to eradicate all our problems. The message of the gospel is that salvation and deliverance ultimately lie in Jesus.
As followers of the Saviour, our chief goal is to point people to the Redeemer. Whether we are workers in the marketplace, politicians in the parliament, homemakers in the community, students in institutions or servants in NGOs, our supreme duty is to heed the call of our Lord to “go and make disciples of all nations”.
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