Needed: Leaders for the World to Come!
A commentary by Peter Hawkins
United Church of God pastor, United Kingdom
Well-intentioned
European laws, enacted to curb air pollution, are creating some undesired
results. They open the door to huge money-making opportunities for the
large multinationals.
The Daily Telegraph (London) of 2 July 2006 ran a piece by correspondent
Robert Watts explaining, "When it was launched with a fanfare last
year the European Union's Emission Trading Scheme was trumpeted as a
way to curb the damage big business does to the environment. Today, 18
months after its launch, the farcical side-effects of the scheme are
starting to become clear."
Under the scheme, the European Commission gives member states targets
for the quantity of carbon dioxide they can produce. Member state-governments
then set individual targets for companies and other organisations for
how much carbon dioxide they are permitted to release into the atmosphere.
The scheme allows those who exceed their pollution targets to buy carbon
permits from companies that have not used their full allocation. Overnight
a so-called 'carbon trading' market sprang into life, with
banks, accountancy groups and other companies charging chunky fees to
put vendors in touch with sellers.
"According to a report to be published this week, some of the
world's most powerful energy companies—including BP and Esso—have
already made millions of euros from the scheme. Meanwhile, Britain's
cash-strapped hospitals have been forced to spend an extra £1.3m
a year at a time when they are being forced to sack nurses and other
key staff" (ibid).
This illustrates an enormous human problem. In trying to govern ourselves,
we often create problems bigger than the ones we try to eliminate.
There are two faces to this predicament!
One is that we simply don't anticipate all the consequences of
our choices and decisions. We may attack a problem ever so sincerely
with what appears to be workable solutions. But our solutions may be
incomplete. Our 'cure' is sometimes worse than the problem
we set out to solve.
The other face is the human temptation to put self-interest first.
Often our leaders know the steps that would benefit everyone the most.
But they see those steps as politically too costly to support. As a result,
their efforts are rendered ineffective by such human factors as negligence,
strife or gridlock over partisan positions. At times even deliberate
deceit and corruption enter the mix.
Jesus Christ was well acquainted with the ineffective dynamics in human
leadership. He called some of His nation's leaders 'play-actors' (hypocrites)
who took advantage of widows, practiced bribery and spiritually compromised
themselves to gain from their positions or to simply get their way (Matthew
23:14, 27-31; 28:12). Jesus told those leaders that (eventually) their
positions would be taken from them (and from others like them) and given
to individuals worthy of such responsibilities (Matthew 21:43).
The book of Proverbs tells us, "When the righteous are in authority,
the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan" (Proverbs
29:2).
So Jesus explains the consequences of being led by faulty human reasoning
which ignores the righteousness taught in God's word. Those consequences
will devastate humanity shortly before He returns. "In those days
there will be very much trouble and pain and sorrow. It has never been
this bad from the beginning of the world and never will be again. If
the time had not been made short, no life would have been saved. Because
of God's people, the time will be made short" (Matthew 24:22,
New Life Version, emphasis added throughout).
Incorruptible and highly competent rulers are crucial to the survival
of mankind. Thankfully, God is already calling and selecting people worthy
to become tomorrow's leaders. You could be one of them.
Jesus Christ is at work preparing a group of genuinely righteous administrators
for the future. This is why He said that God will not allow the earth
to be destroyed. Notice again His words in Matthew 24:12, as translated
in the New International Version. "If those days had not been
cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those
days will be shortened."
Jesus is selecting sincerely responsive individuals that He
can train to assist Him in leading those who do survive into a new civilisation.
Just as 12 governing leadership positions await the apostles (Matthew
19:28), if you accept the challenge of repentance in this life, you also
will receive the opportunity to help Him in governing this earth righteously—as
one of His administrative assistants (Luke 19:15-19, Revelation 5:10).
  Learn
more about how He can prepare you to be an active participant in His
coming Kingdom. Just request or download now our free and informative
booklets: What Is Your
Destiny? and Transforming Your
Life.
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