As the country was left reeling with shock and grief over the death of our beloved Queen, the media kept reminding us that it was her faith in Jesus that proved the light and strength of her long life and reign
By Charles Gardner
Both indirectly via her carefully planned funeral, and every year at Christmas, in a broadcast to the nation watched by millions worldwide, the Sovereign shared her personal Christian faith as key to all she did.
And surely the best part of her illustrious legacy are her invitations to her subjects to do likewise?
Some years ago, for example, she quoted a verse from a well-known carol, ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’: “What can I give him, poor as I am, If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man, I would do my part, Yet what I can I give him, give my heart.”
She encouraged millions of viewers to give Jesus their heart. This was our Queen, and we are all so proud of her!
Archbishop Justin Welby gave this Gospel truth to the billions watching the Queen’s funeral around the globe: “All who follow the Queen’s example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can with her say: ‘We will meet again’.”
Just this June, during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee service at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said the Queen was “someone who has been able to serve our nation faithfully because of her faith in Jesus Christ”. And then he added this challenge: “Perhaps there is no better way of celebrating her Platinum Jubilee than by doing the same ourselves.”
Referring to the Apostle Paul, the Archbishop said he was only worth following because he was following Jesus, adding: “For me, the best leaders – like Paul, like Jesus – are those who know how to be led.”
It is indeed truly exciting to witness how the entire nation, led by the secular media, is being taken up with the wonder and reality of our late Queen’s faith.
As I watched King Charles’ beautiful tribute to his mother shortly after she died, I found myself praying the prayer of William Tyndale as he was about to be martyred for daring to translate the New Testament into English: “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.”
We know the new king has been less vocal and precise about his faith than his mother, but I pray that God will also open his eyes to the uniqueness of Christ and his Gospel. God save the King!