The unsuccessful recall of Governor Gavin Newsom tells us a lot about the current state of this once cherished state.
After I left the army in 1970, I was offered two lucrative positions in the private sector. Both jobs required leaving Texas and moving to the Golden State. The choice fell on a move to the districts of San Mateo or Los Angeles.
That Northern California opportunity would have required a transfer to Albuquerque after six months of training, so we took the Southern California opportunity and bought our first home in the San Fernando Valley.
This state of affairs has changed immensely over the past five decades. Unfortunately, California has become so liberal that the conservative minority has lost its vote in the Capitol and in most county and city governments.
In recent years we have all seen more and more companies migrate to greener pastures in more business-friendly countries. There doesn’t seem to be any justice in any of this. The “cake in heaven” policy that we have experienced is just a false promise that cannot be kept.
Let’s go back in history to the 10th century in Israel. The Israelites believed that they needed a king to rule over them like all of their neighboring peoples. The prophet and priest Samuel tried to argue with the people, but they wanted a king rather than listen to God’s anointed prophets.
This followed the 400 year period of judges overseeing the nation during some very troubling times. Like any prophet and priest worth his salt, Samuel prayed to the Lord with the people’s request. God responded and let Samuel know that the people did not reject him personally, but God himself.
Hear God’s response to Samuel’s prayer regarding his concern for the people’s desire for a king. At 1 Samuel 8: 7-9 we read: “And the Lord said to him: ‘Listen to everything that the people say to you; they did not reject you, but me as their king. As they have done from days on, I have led them out of Egypt to this day, left me and served other gods, so they do it with you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will rule over them will do. “
And that’s exactly what he did.
Well folks, I am certainly not a prophet, but I can tell you this: During the remainder of Newsom’s term in office, we may have some dark days ahead of us.
As in Israel 3,000 years ago, we elected elected officials who gradually built a government that controls the people like a monarchy. We have very little control over government affairs – especially when emergency powers are enforced during an extended pandemic.
On the other hand, the real problem is not those in power, but humanity in general.
Apparently, many Californians prefer more government over less government. Personally, I prefer minimal government involvement where we have to make ourselves more dependent on our Heavenly Father, the True King!
We need the Holy Spirit to lead us according to the constitution he helped build almost two and a half centuries ago. Listen to President Abraham Lincoln’s words: “Democracy is rule of the people, for the people and by the people.”
In other words, democracy should function as a government elected by the people and governed for the benefit of all people – not for the benefit of an elite or a special class.
Our state government has broken away. We must pray that God will change people’s hearts and bring forth compassionate leaders at all levels of government who will follow His wisdom and have the presence of mind to establish fiscal responsibility and conservative policies to make California a better place for the rest live out our lives.
Lord we need your help!
Passages for thought
“1 Samuel 8: 10-18
“Proverbs 17: 1-4
»Romans 13: 1-2
»1 Thessalonians 3: 12-13
– Jim Langley has been writing for over 30 years while serving as a life and health insurance broker in Santa Barbara. In recent years his passion has turned to writing about his personal relationship with God, and his goal is to encourage others to approach him as well. A long-time member of CBMC of Santa Barbara (Christian Business Men’s Connection), he began writing fourth quarter columns in 2014 and is now reaching an international audience through CBMC International Devotional Monday Manna. He can be reached at [email protected] for more informations. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
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