Barack Obama: Is Our Hope in Man's Greatness or for God's Glory?

‘Magical Spell That Will Open New American Era,’ was the headline in ‘The Guardian’ on 20 January 2009, as it anticipated the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama as America's new President.

The new President did his best to conjure that “magical spell” in his inaugural speech:

“Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America,” Mr Obama said.

I realise that this was a political event, not the staging of an evangelical conference – still, given the fact that it was bounded by acts of worship, with two high profile pastors carefully chosen to offer prayer, I feel free to comment on these “religious components."

To my mind, these acts epitomise the sterile state of spirituality that is so typical of this day. They draw attention to:

[1] THE ABSENCE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

While the world hopes that this new President will lift it out of its economic darkness, the church cannot sign up to his agenda.

Our immediate duty is to persevere in the quest for God’s glory to return to this dark earth once again!

In the Absence of the Glory of God, we make our:

[2] APPEAL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

Like Moses, in Exodus 33:18, we cry, “Shew me Thy glory.”

The return of God’s glory – revival – is our pressing need.

[3] THE APPEARANCE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

How does God's glory manifest itself on the earth?

This question is answered by the setting forth of 12 features of a true revival.

Instead of looking to man, for some illusive ‘Magical Spell That Will Open A New Era,’ we are looking to the Lord:

"Shew us Thy glory"!