Jack Layton

Jack Layton was the leader of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP), the left-wing party in Canada.  He was charismatic and passionate, and he had a very loyal following.  He led the NDP to its best performance in any federal election, and it appears he was rightfully proud of that accomplishment.  Jack Layton recently died, and it's been all the newspapers seem to be able to talk about, and all anyone can do to come up with bigger ways to honour the man.  Seriously, they lit up the CN Tower orange (the NDP's colour), and then did the same to Niagara freaking Falls.

Despite the title, this post is not actually about Jack Layton.  It is, however, related to him.  You see, judging by the way his followers have reacted to his death, you'd think the light of hope and salvation has gone out, replaced by death and destruction.... or that his death signalled the end of civilisation, and the beginning of a new Dark Ages.

This post is not about Jack Layton.  Instead, it's about those followers...

Psalm 146:3-10.
Do not put your trust in princes, 
in human beings, who cannot save. 
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; 
on that very day their plans come to nothing. 
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God. 
He is the Maker of heaven and earth, 
the sea, and everything in them
- he remains faithful forever.  
He upholds the cause of the oppressed 
and gives food to the hungry. 
The LORD sets prisoners free, 
the LORD gives sight to the blind, 
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous. 
The LORD watches over the foreigner 
and sustains the fatherless and the widow, 
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.  
The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Jack Layton died.  That means that Jack Layton can do nothing more for you, nor for anyone else.  If you have put your hope in him or in any other mere prince, then you have placed your hope in someone that is bound to fail you, and it doesn't matter what your political stripe happens to be.

See: no politician can match God when it comes to care for the disenfranchised, discouraged, or disowned, nor for the abandoned, alone, or hungry.  Understand that there is no politician - no prince, Prime Minister, President, Supersaint - who can always uphold the righteous, sustain the orphan, frustrate the wicked, or give food to the hungry.

So rather than seek ways to lift up a mere man for all to see as though he were a paragon of virtue, and peerless in his efforts, turn your own eyes to the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them, who remains forever faithful.  Turn your eyes to the God of Jacob; turn your eyes to the Christ, who is God Incarnate.  Everyone and everything else can fail, but He will remain faithful and true. 

I don't know the state of Jack Layton's soul, and as he is dead, it's not my business.  God will work that out with him, and it will be a perfect, just, and holy decision.  What's more important is the state of yours.  Where do you stand?  If you were face to face with God - who is perfect, knows all things, and has standards none of us can reach on our own - and were asked simply, "Why should I let you into my kingdom," what would you say?  What could you say?

If Jesus Christ is not lord of your life, then your hope is in a mere man or woman; you, or another person.  If you have never been confronted by the sheer weight and stain of your sin in light of how perfect God sees you - and fallen to your knees in conviction proclaiming that Christ's death and resurrection is your only means of being reconciled to Him, and asked for His forgiveness for falling so far from the mark - then you are utterly without hope.  Hell is the only thing you will experience once you die, and this is your best life now.

So, before you turn your computer off, seek God while He may be found.  He desires that you are forgiven and are reconciled to Him.  This is a fine page for you to read; don't be distracted by the colours or design of the thing, just read.

Do not trust in princes, in mere men in whom there is no salvation.  No matter his or her political stripe.