The Ruler and the Realm

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 6, 1908

The Ruler and the Realm

THERE is a large, influential, and growing portion of the people of this country who are anxious to have God recognized as the sovereign ruler of this particular nation, in spite of the fact, so patent to any observer, that the conditions obtaining in this particular realm are not such as would bring honor to any ruler. Upon the ruler of a realm is always laid the blame for the conditions existing in that realm. When conditions are good, they praise their ruler; when they are bad, and the people are dissatisfied, they lay plans to assassinate the ruler. The United Presbyterian quotes the following from one whom it designates as a “keen-sighted writer of our day,” that is interesting in this connection:—

From combinations of wealth that have lessened the cost of production we have gone swiftly to combinations for plunder, that represent stock watered indefinitely and foisted on the public by greedy and unscrupulous stock jugglers. From labor unions also, that once offered insurance, unity of purpose, co-operation, we have passed to some unions that represent brutality, the hatred and murder of non-union men.

Of this writer’s setting forth of conditions in this country the Presbyterian says:—

This is an indictment only too absolute in its truth, and seems to mar the beauty of our landscape.

But in immediate connection it also says this:—

For the sake of the immigrant who yearly comes to us from continental countries, we must emphasize that the most high God is “the supreme Ruler and the Sovereign Arbiter of the country’s destinies.”

When the European immigrant looks over the record of this country’s crimes for a year, and in the great cities sees before his eyes, day in and day out, the flagrant demonstrations of the rule of graft, greed, and lust, it will not increase his love or reverence for God if some one succeeds in making him believe that God is the direct ruler in this realm, and for the conditions that obtain here. The grafter, the brothel keeper, the thief, and the murderer would all be glad indeed if they could make judge and jury believe that God was responsible for all the wickedness of the world, and for their wickedness in particular. There is a ruler who is responsible for all the wicked conditions that exist in this world. Christ called him the “prince of this world;” but he is not God nor Christ, neither is he one of the present heavenly host. He is the tare-strewer, the mischief-maker, the hate-brewer, the “murderer from the beginning,” the despiser of truth and righteousness. Out of this kingdom of darkness, over which Satan presides, God is gathering out the few who are willing that he should rule in their hearts. God’s kingdom in this world now is in the hearts of his saints. When the great day of his ultimate triumph over sin has come, this earth, the age-long scene of Satan’s operations and rule, will be given over to the “saints of the Most High,” who will possess it for an eternal inheritance. God, and the One whose sacrifice won back the lost estate and the forfeited life of the race to whom it was given, will be the only rulers in that realm. They will be the responsible rulers, responsible for the conditions existing there; but when we charge them with it now, we are doing them no honor, and are giving to wicked men an occasion to blaspheme.