The Rise and Fall of Kings

By Michael Griego on July 19, 2024 • ( 0 )

That leaders or nations are good or evil is not indicative of the truth of God, what matters is their adherence to and reverence for the truth of God. ◊

With another ‘shot heard round the world’, a nation already conflicted is swirling in shock, horror, and wonder.¹ Many obvious and disconcerting questions are being asked about who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Unfortunately, I believe these questions won’t, if ever, get truthfully answered definitively.

As a child during the horrific, successful JFK assassination in 1963, I witnessed on television a sequence of events and absorbed a standard narrative from trusted adult sources as to what transpired.

For a youngster in 1963, there was no reason to doubt the credibility of what we were being told about that afternoon in Dallas.

Of course, over the years, for anyone paying attention, young or old, there is ample reason today to doubt the credibility of anything that we are being told. Yet still today, over 60 years after the murder of President John Kennedy, one-third of Americans still believe the official lone-gunman narrative put out by the US government.²

Now, what is a Bible-believing, Christ-following Christian in 2024 supposed to believe about what happened to former President Trump? How are we to deal with what went on this past week in Pennsylvania?

What’s God Have to Do With This?
Some say that God saved President Trump last weekend. Some would ask, What’s God have to do with this? Some say he was lucky. Some wonder why an innocent Christian man, former fire chief Corey Comperatore, had to die in front of his family.

Some, actually on both sides of the political spectrum, say the assassination attempt was a staged event. Some say it was a failed hit job by Trump’s political opposition. Some cite the reality of the US government’s mind-control, programmed assassin operations (think Jason Bourne).

The truth behind Man’s behavior in matters of religion, politics, money, and power, is really hard to pin down. Money and power have ways to cover up tracks and operations.

So, What is Truth?
The truth question was literally asked of Jesus by Pilate upon Christ’s arrest. Pilate, the Roman governor of the region of Judea, had heard people say that Jesus was a king.

He wanted to get to the truth of the matter:

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. – John 18:37-38

Pilate really wanted to know and understand truth. It was standing right before him. Jesus had earlier told his disciples about who He was relative to truth:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” – John 14:6-7

That’s a statement that should shake the foundation of what each of us hold up as real truth. That statement coming from One that many of us, Christian and otherwise, give only nodding assent to His existence on earth and His good teachings.

In truth, beyond the truth and reality of Jesus, we should always be wondering and asking:

“What is the truth?”
“Who do I believe?”
“Who is correct?”
“Who is being honest?”
“Who is actually lying to me?”

Failure to exercise even a base-level of skepticism and discernment can lead to the pollution of any portion or all that is right, good, honest and true.

The Truth of the Matter
Relative to what went on last weekend surrounding former President Trump, I believe the Biblical Scriptures that tell us that Creator God governs the affairs of men and controls the rise and fall of leaders and whole nations.

Here are just a few sample Biblical references:

“The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” – Daniel 4:17
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” – Proverbs 21:1
“For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations.” – Psalms 22:28
“You [God] rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.” – 2 Chronicles 20:6
“Obey the rulers who have authority over you. Only God can give authority to anyone, and he puts these rulers in their places of power.” – Romans 13:1-7

One may not believe in God – I do. I do believe God saved President Trump from an assassin’s bullet. Toward what end? I do not know. For a purpose and a plan that is not random, but guided by the will and hand of God? Yes.

One may not believe the Bible – I do. As the stated documented Word of God, predictive and referenced by Jesus, the Christ, God has dictated the ebb and flow of leaders and nations throughout human history.

God created man and destroyed His creation in a global flood that shaped the continents. God rebuilt communities from Noah’s family to eventually raise up a nomadic people from Abraham’s family. This purposeful people group (God’s purpose) expanded and were led to take down ruling kings and peoples in and around Canaan in the Middle East. Subsequently, God dealt with nations and rulers over generations in Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.

All of this is documented in the Bible.

God’s hand was also on or removed from worldly expansion of eastern and western Europe, the United Kingdom; Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.

That leaders or nations are good or evil is not indicative of the truth of God, what matters is their adherence to and reverence for the truth of God. And either way, good and evil kings, leaders, and nations are used by God to accomplish His good and perfect will.

In the meantime, we watch video clips, read our articles and news feeds and conspire amongst friends, neighbors, and enemies. Be wary, wise, and discerning.

And Always, God is in Control
By the way, in sadly considering the tragic early death of an apparently good and noble man, Corey Comperatore, an innocent shot and killed as he observed last weekend’s Trump rally with his family, I am reminded of the tragic early death of the great Christian minister, Oswald Chambers, who died at the age of 43 from a ruptured appendix.

At the height of his ministry teaching and encouraging British soldiers in Egypt during WWI, Chambers left behind a loving wife and young 4-year-old daughter.

Why would God take such a talented and devoted young man? Why would God allow such sadness and tragedy?

Yes, I believe God could have saved these men from the circumstances that killed them. But God has a larger purpose we often cannot see or understand, even in our lifetime.

Chamber’s young widow, Biddy, was a stenographer who could take shorthand notes at a rate of 250 words per minute, faster than most people speak. She literally recorded notes of all of her husband’s lectures and sermons. Though devastated by his death, she spent the rest of her life editing and writing 30 books containing the teachings of her late husband.

The most famous book, of which she took no proceeds, was the popular devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, first published in 1927.

As with Chambers, Comperatore, Trump, and you and I, only God knows the number of our days and the plans for His good purposes. We do best to surrender and submit our own lives and that of our families to the perfect sovereign will of a Holy God who knows better and loves us greatly.

Do you believe that God is sovereign over everything?
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Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. – Proverbs 19:21

¹Note: The “shot heard round the world” is a phrase that refers to the opening shot of the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, which sparked the American Revolutionary War and led to the creation of the United States. See Shot heard round the world, in Wikipedia.

²Who Really Killed JFK? After 60 Years and New Clues, the Truth Looks Different, by Michael Natale, Biography, November 22, 2023.