Canada is celebrating its 155th birthday as a nation and that calls for celebration! When we celebrate an event, we usually reflect upon what we have received and achieved. For Christians it is always a time in which we focus upon the blessings of the Lord.
What is prominent about all nations and cultures is not only that they have their own separate histories, but also that on a religious scale they differ so widely. Throughout time and history we see leaders of nations rise and fall, the results of their leadership impacts their citizens in many ways. By observation, I have concluded, like the Scriptures, that the trademark of a blessed nation is one that is depicted in Psalm 33:12, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
For quite some time this truth applied to many nations, including Canada. It is even enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which states that Canada is founded upon principles that recognize God and the rule of law. A statement like this tells us something about the time in which the document was written. However, the reality is that for many Canadians, God is no longer in the picture. God-centred principles have been replaced by man-centred values that undermine biblical principles.
I am convinced that a nation is truly blessed when it recognizes God’s supremacy and submits to His rule and authority in its day to day affairs. God, who is the Wise Supreme Ruler, has established nations and Christ, who is the King of all kings knows how to instruct and lead a nation in the way they should go. A nation is blessed when it lives and functions under the supremacy of the sovereign God and in humble submission looks to Him for protection, counsel and guidance. That is why the clarion call of Psalm 33 is still relevant for us (as Canadians) in 2022, it serves as a powerful reminder to live as a people under God, as stated in our national anthem “God keep our land, glorious and free,” as we “O, Canada stand on guard for thee.”
Amen.
