Support For The Road Ahead

Scripture Reading: Joshua 1

The day is April 12th 1945. The place, the White House. Vice President Harry S. Truman had been summoned there. In Warm Springs Georgia, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was sitting for a portrait and grabbed his head and fell over. The situation did not look good. A White House aide came to find the Vice President in the White House gardens. The message was important. The President of the United States was dead. All of the sudden this huge weight of leading the nation, still caught up in the Second World War came to Harry Truman. He found a very saddened Eleanor Roosevelt in the White House corridor. Harry was heartfully sorry for her, and asked her gently if there was anything he could do for her. Despite her grief she replied, "is there anything we can do for you Harry, you are the President now."
As the historical photo shows, Harry S. Truman was soon sworn in as the Commander in Chief after a long legacy of FDR, a man who had reshaped America and had been the longest elected President in our nation's history. What a moment that must have been for Mr. Truman.

Similarly this account reminds me of what Joshua the servant of the Most High God faced as God told Joshua that Moses, the nations only leader was dead. Now Joshua was to be the leader of Israel. I wonder if Joshua and Harry Truman found some common emotional ground here? Nevertheless, the profound statement Eleanor Roosevelt made I believe should be the supportive cry of us all when our earthly leaders leave us.

As Christians we need to realize that these bodies we live in are only temporary and are only tools for God's use. When the tool has finished its usefulness, the soul leaves to its reward. However that does not mean all that one has done needs be left to rot. God's servants leave behind a work unfinished or at least finished as far as they can take it. Now it is up to someone else to carry on that work. What can we do when this happens?

First, depending on our position and relation to the leader that has left, we are to step up and fill the gap as our abilities and the Lord's will sees fit. We cannot sit back and let the burdens all fall directly on one person. One great aspect of the church I attend is that we have such a great team of leadership that when one person leaves for whatever reason, there are plenty ready to pitch in and fill the gap until a new member who best suits the missing position is found. So many churches falter because no one is willing to take on responsibility. Our Lord told the 11 disciples before His Ascension to make disciples of all men. That is to make those who will carry on the work of God after the 11 had passed on to Glory. That is precisely our role today, to carry on in the nursery, the parking lots, the deacon/elder board, the greeting team, the ushers, the custodians, the outreach group, the benevolence ministry, etc. Keep on, keeping on. God's ministry has not yet been finished, it relies on you.

Secondly, we need to be verbally and actively supportive of our leadership. The saying goes, we can't all be the boss, certainly applies. The church is strong because of its leaders and workers combined. But if you are involved in leadership you know how valuable it is to know that your team is behind you. Like Harry Truman, in the hardest hour, what a comfort it is to know you're not without help or support. How do we support our leaders. Here are a few suggestions:

• Most importantly, keep them in constant prayer
• Inquire what you can do to help them, either in ministry or in their personal lives (i.e. run errands, help with house repairs, help with smaller tasks so they can focus on larger ones. etc.)
• Encourage them when you see they may be going through some deep waters
• Show acts of kindness to them as the Lord directs

Just as it is wonderful to know that the Lord Jesus stands for you and behind you, so it is with our human relationships to know that we are behind our leaders ready to help, ready to support, ready to throw in our words and actions of support. The Bible is full of such accounts of human relation support. Let's take the same action as the saints of old.

The support we give honors our Lord and Master and we help grow His church, come what may.

It was in the days of old as an army marched toward its foes, it did so in a long straight horizontal line. As an artillery shell or some other weapon blasted a hole in this line, the men would come up from rear ranks and fill the gap, reinforcing the battle line. What a picture of Christian service!

Layperson, as long as we are in the world our leaders will come and go. Our mission and work though stays the same, stand and serve. If you find yourself a leader now facing a new challenge in the sudden absence of your leader, look ahead in confidence, the Lord Himself is going before you, and we the workers stand behind you.

If this post has been a blessing to you, forward it to a friend. Keep your eyes upon the sky, Jesus is coming soon.