As a Canadian and part of the British Commonwealth I am saddened, as millions others are, at the passing of our Queen Elizabeth II. She reigned over fifteen commonwealth realms, including Canada, for seventy years and two hundred and fourteen days.
I saw Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in my home town of Prince George, British Columbia. It was May, 1971 and as a high school student I was excited to see the most famous monarch in the world. I stood along the park road as she walked by...
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” “The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”" Luke 10:37,38
I was very impressed with her poise and dignity. What impressed me even more were the words on a leaflet that was handed out on her behalf. On it she testified of her faith in Jesus Christ.
One of her titles and responsibility was to be the Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, titles vested in the reigning British monarch since Henry VIII renounced the Papacy in 1534. At her coronation in 1953, Her Majesty took an oath to “maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England.”
It was more a religious duty which she inherited. However, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary gave her life to Jesus at a young age. Before she was crowned at twenty-five she said, 'Pray for me … that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life."
One of the most sacred moments of her coronation is "The Anointing," where all symbols of royal status are removed. The young woman goes under the a canopy hidden from cameras. There, the Archbishop anoints her with oil and prays over her to invite the Holy Spirit to set her apart as God's servant. The orb, the scepter, the ring and the crown all include a cross to symbolize the sovereign rule of Jesus Christ over the world. Though the crown jewels contain some of the world's most valuable jewels, a Bible is presented to her as "the most valuable thing that this world affords."
Queen Elizabeth II spoke frequently about her personal Christian faith. Throughout her reign, she articulated the importance of her faith and recommended it to her subjects. In 2000 she said, “For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life…. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.”
Inspired by the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ and His words, she would often say, "I did not come to be served, but to serve." Unlike so many monarchs before her who supposedly represented God to the people but didn't behave like it, she represented Jesus the Anointed One to her realm.
Her sacrificial life to help her subjects guided by the teachings of Jesus is in sharp contrast to the corrupt presidents and politicians who have little moral conviction and actually appose the teachings of Christ. She stood above politics. Her life will be remembered as one of the world's steady and caring leaders. The others will be remembered as fools without truth.
Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the Great Sovereign on Thursday, September 8, 2022 at the age of 96. Today, Her Majesty the Queen bows her knee and head before His Majesty the King in reverent worship. The Defender of the Faith joins the twenty four rulers seated before the throne in song and celebration. She casts her crown before His Majesty--the Kings of all Kings and Lord of all lesser Lords.
Her faithful devotion to living a sacrificial life should be an inspiration to us. I encourage you to do as she said in 1985 speaking of the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan, this "Reminds us of our duty to our neighbor. We should try to follow Christ's clear instruction at the end of that story: 'Go and do likewise.'"