Sir Robert Winston during Question Time last night used King Canute to exemplify, as he sees it, David Cameron rushing around the flooded areas of the country like a man who doesn’t know what he’s doing. That may be so but like so many Sir Robert has it all wrong about the famous, or infamous, King.
David Cameron, and Sir Robert are just like the Insurance company I called a little while ago. While waiting to be put through had to endure their ‘Green Credentials’ propaganda. The phone message spoke of how they were going to prevent the impending disaster brought about by Climate Change. I suppose the floods will ‘steel up’ the Climate Doom Mongers with enough stories of gloom to last through till the next ‘record breaking’ weather event.
Sadly, David Cameron is nothing like the eponymous King holding back the tide. What a stupid ‘un-scientific’ man King Canute was. At least that’s how Canute is mostly thought of – thinking he could hold back the tide at his command. What an idiot! Or was he? That’s not how we should think of King Canute. The point he (the good King) was trying to make has been completely lost on our current rulers, scientists and almost everyone else, which isn’t really surprising. His point was, though a King, he couldn’t prevent the tide from coming in. The ruler of nature is God.
The primary message of the floods is this: we should realise our helplessness in the face of an unstoppable force. And then realise our utter helplessness before God. This message isn’t just lost on politicians, it’s lost on just about everybody – including many Christians! The message is to Repent & Believe the Gospel. That’s the point. I’m not making a moral claim or a moral point. This weather is a microscopic demonstration of The Lord God – and it’s before Him on that great judgment day we must all stand. Remember Noah? The Ark is likened to safety from the judgement of God, safety is found only in Jesus Christ.
God’s Promise Is Not Slack
3 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us,[a] the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,[b] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3: 3-8)
Related articles – for a misunderstood view of King Canute
