“There will be great presidents again but there will never be another Camelot.” (Jackie Kennedy). “I think we could all use a little Camelot right now.” (Clint Hill).
The government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. (Isaiah 9:6–7, NIV 1984).
My Musings – Though the photo is blurred, for anyone my age or older the image is seared into our memories. The stricken leader (President Kennedy) slumping to his left following the fatal head shot, the first lady (Jackie Kennedy) climbing onto the trunk of the limousine, and the secret service agent (Clint Hill) rushing to their aid. But too late to alter the course of history.
In Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye; a book written by President Kennedy’s special assistant David Powers and political aide Kenneth O’Donnell, the President is quoted as telling his wife, on that infamous day, “Jackie, if somebody wants to shoot me from a window with a rifle, nobody can stop it, so why worry about it?”
In the years since, “history became legend, legend became myth*,” and the longing for a return of Camelot, whether history, legend or myth persists. Even though we now know that the man and his Presidency were flawed. Who (and whose) is not? Perhaps now people in general and leaders in particular are more flawed than they have been since “the days of Noah.” Not just in the culture and not just in government, but even in many churches. No wonder many, not just Clint Hill, “think we could all use a little Camelot now.”
Something better than Camelot is coming. Not a legend. Not a myth. But a certain future for all who long for “The Return of the King.” What once was (in the Garden), will be again when everything is renewed. This time “there will be no end.” All because the One who will carry this new government on His shoulder, once upon a time carried a cross on His shoulder. Worthy to carry both (the sacrifice and the government) because He was not flawed.
I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:1–5, NIV 1984).
My Advice – “So let me ask you…to lift your eyes beyond the dangers of today, to the hopes of tomorrow…to the day of peace with justice, beyond yourselves and ourselves, to all [who are born again]. When that day finally comes, as it will, [Christians of all ages] can take satisfaction in the fact that they were in the front lines for [over] two [thousand years]. All — All free men [no longer enslaved by sin], wherever they may live, are citizens of [His Kingdom]. And, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words — I am a citizen of that Kingdom!” (Adapted from one of President Kennedy’s most famous speeches).
He is coming back to establish that Kingdom. It is certain. “Nobody can stop it. So why worry about it?” Well if you aren’t a citizen of His Kingdom, you don’t have that hope for tomorrow. Read my “The Born Again Experience” musings to find out how you can have that hope. How you can “apply for citizenship.”
*quote from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
The Brew Is A Musing 