This is the final pre-referendum post to be published on this blog. As I shall be travelling all day Friday, my comments on the result will have to wait until Saturday!
One of the areas that the "Remain" camp seemed to avoid is that of national sovereignty. That topic also ties in with democracy. If those who make our laws are not accountable to those who elect them, then we have, not a democracy, but an autocratic dictatorship. It is an indisputable fact that the EU Commission is the group that actually makes the EU laws. It is equally indisputable that they are unelected, and unaccountable. If there was no other reason for voting to LEAVE, that one would be sufficient for me.
If sovereignty has been avoided by the "Remain" camp, they could not avoid the subject of immigration. One of the points that has had to be repeated, almost ad nauseum, by the BREXIT camp is that to be opposed to uncontrolled immigration is not to be opposed to controlled immigration. The system that has been regularly proposed is a points-based system similar (but not, necessarily, identical) to the Australian system. This would allow the UK to accept those who have the skills that are currently lacking here (due, I would contend, to the 'dumbing-down' of the education system in every part of the UK over many decades - but that is a whole new topic!), while denying access to those who merely wish to take advantage of the UK benefits' system, or to take on unskilled work - at a wage that is less than a UK worker would expect but that is, to them, in terms of their own national income scales, undreamed of wealth.
Then there are the basic issues of honesty and integrity. In 1975, I was one of those who voted against the UK becoming a part of what we were assured was nothing more than a Trading Bloc - the European Economic Community. I did so, I confess, not because I had some wonderful insight, or prophetic vision, but because I did not trust the then Prime Minister, Edward Heath. He did later confess that he was fully aware that, in spite of the assurances given, he was aware that the end-goal was a political integration that would subsume the UK. I do not trust the current incumbent of 10 Downing Street any more than I did that former one! Even the so-called "renegotiation" has yet to be ratified by the EU Parliament. Does any right-thinking person really believe that this will happen? I certainly don't. On the other hand, I do believe that there are a number of plans (some of which have been 'leaked') for after the referendum, that will not be to the advantage of the UK, and that will be set into motion in the event of a win for the "Remain" campaigners.
However, let my final word be that I believe, fully and unapologetically, in the sovereignty of Almighty God. The Psalmist wrote: "... dominion belongs to YHWH, and He rules over the nations." (Ps 22:28). Accordingly, I believe that His will shall be accomplished. For His own purposes, it may be that He wishes the EU to continue. Certainly, that could be yet another sign that we are in "the last days" (there are many others all around us). What I believe is that, for the disciple of Jesus, this must be a matter of continuing prayer and that, however we intend to cast our vote, we must be willing to pray, as the Saviour Himself prayed on an infinitely more important occasion: "Not my will, but Yours, be done". (see Lk.22:42).
On Friday, there will be jubilation, and there will be disappointment. I pray that we who claim to be His will accept the result as His will at this time, and react accordingly.
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