What a magnificent “Head of State”, Queen Elizabeth.   After the Queen‘s recent death and the pomp and circumstance surrounding her funeral, I became enamored with her life and began to read all I could about this magnificent person. After reading her address to the British people after World War II, in which she called upon the British people to rise to the challenge of rebuilding their country after the devastation of the war, I realized the depth of her spiritual beliefs and leadership. Five years after this initial speech challenging the people of the British empire, she had a Christmas message with a similar theme. It was during this address to the nation that she was televised on national television. For the first time, she discussed at length the changing times, especially the advent of technology. She cautioned the British people, she called them ‘cynics,’ who were trying to throw out timeless ideals—religion, morality, honesty, and self-restraint–as though they were obsolete. Sound familiar? We in America could take some lessons from the Queen’s remarks.

While we have not experienced the devastation of a world war here in our homeland, we are experiencing the devastation of our society. Queen Elizabeth dedicated herself to ‘setting an example’ for the world, a special kind of courage to vindicate the enduring character of what is right, true, and honest in the face of cynics.   She, Queen Elizabeth, used her role as Head of the British Empire to shape society by communicating ideals, self-discipline, devotion, and discernment.  

We must begin addressing the ills plaguing our country, the family, corporations, schools, and the workplace. We must make it a priority to ‘teach’ relational roles, and patterns of responsibility. We must show we are capable of addressing our deficiencies by shaping our character.  All of us, particularly Christians, should reflect on the roles and responsibilities we have as part of the institutions to which we have been called.  We must live for the future while cherishing that which we want to endure. 

 As I watched the funeral, I thought how hollow and pious it would have been in the absence of someone without real faith.  Not so with Queen Elizabeth’s life being characterized by personal devotion to her Savior and Lord.  She possessed a devotion she was not afraid to voice on important national occasions. As a monarch, Queen Elizabeth understood the responsibility to praise what is good.  She pointed to an increasingly unwilling society toward God.

May the death of this great leader rekindle personal faith in our hearts and inspire us here in America with a vision of Christian Statesmanship.

                                                                                                  Gary Coker