July 1, 2021 -- Acts 17:29-31 -- Hymn to the Ruler Supreme

Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
Acts 17:29-31 ESV

Happy Canada Day! It almost feels like I am not allowed to declare this. On the one hand, the bodies of so many residential school children have been recovered and there are municipalities and towns which are ‘shutting down Canada Day’. On the other hand, the fact those bodies were in the ground is something that has been known, it was not publicly acknowledged. This atrocity needed to be publicly acknowledged.

It is appropriate to grieve. It is appropriate to celebrate Canada with the knowledge it will take the will of a nation and all her people to set things right. Sorrow and hope can be celebrated on the same day. Love for a country and the blessings God has given her and grief over sins can exist side by each. This is appropriate.

The passage from Acts is very hopeful for us today. All people, from conception to death, are precious in the sight of the LORD. All are His offspring. All the deeds of all people, through all the ages, will one day be judged by the LORD Jesus Christ. He is the One Man Who lived and was completely without sin. At the cross He was punished for the sins of all. All Who repent and believe in Him know sin has been fully and finally punished. Those who stand before Him at the last judgment will face His judgment and His justice. There is no escape from this. His righteousness and His punishments are exact, perfect and will set all things right.

Once the flags have been repositioned from the half-mast of mourning to full mast, it is time for all Canadians to roll up our collective sleeves. Get clean water running on the 50+ reservations which still have boil water advisories—some of these advisories are decades old! It will take the will and finances of a united Canada. Get justice for the children of First Nations children who are caught up in the foster care system. It will take the will and finances of a united Canada. It will take the will of a nation and united efforts of the government and opposition leaders to bring these things about and to stop the tide of missing First Nations men and women, making sure every life of every person in this land matters. That is the work of all Canadians.

Happy Canada Day. May we all use our freedom to work for justice and reconciliation. May we all work in the sure hope that our God and King has not overlooked even one life—all are known to Him. Our prayer today is the fourth stanza of our national anthem.

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

https://youtu.be/MV5x6M38ea8