Scotland's Heritage.

Joyce and I have just returned from a few days, in the caravan, in Roslin – just south of Edinburgh. We always try to go away for the mid-term break, as a joint birthday anniversary gift. I celebrate my birthday today, and Joyce celebrates her birthday next Wednesday (20th).
While we were away, we visited four different castles in the east of Scotland – Edinburgh; Dirleton; Tantallon, and Haile’s. Apart from Edinburgh, they are ruins, unfit for human habitation. Cold and dank, parts are missing, and parts are crumbling.
However, although long past their original splendour and glory, they are a part of the history and heritage of this beautiful country.
That’s a bit like the Christian faith. As I look around me I see church buildings, that once were filled with worshipping people, turned into furniture stores, apartments, even bingo halls. I see a nation that now worships the god of materialism and consumerism. Yet the Christian faith is as much a part of our heritage as any great castle.
At Edinburgh, Dirleton and Tantallon, we were struck by the restoration work that is going on – lovingly and carefully undertaken by craftsmen who have dedicated their skill, their knowledge, their expertise, in an endeavour to make those castles look like what they were in the past. And I found myself asking a question! Where are the men, and women, of God who will seek to restore, to our nation, the faith that sustained our forefathers? Where are those who will gladly, and willingly, give of their skill, and knowledge, and expertise in the things of God, in dedicated service to Him, and to their fellow-man?
My current interest in politics is no secret, and I wondered, yet again, if the Lord has chosen to use a political party – like The Scottish Christian Party – to sound a wake-up call to the nation. So much of the church, across the denominations, seems to have let Him down – and suffered the inevitable consequences.
We may be thankful that the God of Abraham of Isaac, and of Jacob, Who has revealed Himself most fully in the Persona of the Lord, Jesus the Christ, is gracious and long-suffering. But let us not presume upon His kindness. Rather, let us be among those who will lead in prayerful repentance, and seek His forgiveness for the sins of the nation.