The month of May 2023 will go down in history as the time of the coronation of King Charles III. You would have to be older than I am to have witnessed a coronation of anyone before that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. (George VI in 1937). This will be a date that will be remembered in the years ahead and mark a new chapter in the British Royal line. It will become an indelible part of our history and no doubt we will all hold memories of witness-ing the ceremonies probably via our TV’s, alt-hough there will be many who will travel to London to line the route of the procession and be able to say ‘I was there!’.
We remember significant dates in our lives which have become part of our own history, the date of our birth, perhaps our first day at a particular school, at university or our first job. We remember the date of our wedding, the birth of our children and sorrowfully the death of our loved ones.
What of the day that we first became convicted as a Christian ? How clearly do we remember that and then the occasion of our baptism? These are signif-icant moments that stay with us, etched upon our hearts as the time when we entered that new life, ‘born again’ into a new family, children of the living God and co heirs with Christ. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, is what we read in the first part of Romans 8:17 but the verse continues – if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Adoption as sons and daughters is not without cost and it can mean we face times of challenge and alienation from those around us who do not feel the same way as we do. The apostles suffered for speaking out about Jesus but we see that they rejoiced at being flogged because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (Acts 5:41) – the Name being that of Jesus – the name that we also should be prepared to suffer for, just as He suffered for us. Our Easter services led by Calix showed us through the prophetic message of Isaiah 53 that Jesus Christ was the suffering servant, the one who ‘took up our pain and bore our suffer-ing’ Isa 53:4a.
Our new King Charles upon his coronation will declare ‘I solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the Throne of my Realm, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.
A solemn declaration to remain a faithful Protestant and one no doubt that requires a selfless sense of duty. We pray for our new King that he will have the strength to remain faithful to that promise.
Yet how about you? Can you remain faithful to that promise you made to follow Jesus as Lord? Perhaps as you witness the new King make his promises and vows it is good time to renew your own promises to the King of Kings, to serve Him faithfully in all circumstances so that we may also share in His glory. If you have yet to make that commitment why not make today the day that you hear the voice of the Lord as he invites you to come and follow Him.
Stuart Beadle
Elder
May 2023
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