Queen Elizabeth II was remarkable not only for the great length of her reign (though Louis XIV of France reigned longer), but also for her particular mix of qualities such as steadiness, sound judgement, dignity, discretion, humility, caring, a deep commitment to serving, and a genuine, heart-felt Christian faith.

Time will tell just how much of that character and Christian faith has been passed on to subsequent royal generations. Many Christians will no doubt pray about that, and for Charles as the new King.

In our modern era, constitutional monarchs have extremely limited power, despite all their pomp and privileges. Real power is held by politicians, and they very much need to be prayed for (1 Tim 2:1-2).

During the Queen’s reign, and through no fault of her own, Britain and many Commonwealth societies have in some respects lost their way, spiritually and morally. Modern cultures and societies very much need to rediscover the living God, as revealed in Christ and the Scriptures.

Some commentators have implicated the Queen in the injustices that were part of imperialism and colonialism. Those injustices, however, largely happened a long time before her, and during her own reign she constructively worked with the process of decolonisation.

All the grief and nostalgia in the United Kingdom and elsewhere at this time is understandable, and no country does ancient tradition and colourful public pageantry quite like Britain.

Our ultimate focus, though, should not be on human leaders. Mortal, imperfect human rulers constantly come and go. But the Lord God alone reigns forever (Psalm 146:10). To the immortal God, the only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, to Him alone be honour and eternal power (1 Tim. 1:17, 6:15-16).

Read The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Sermon for The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Author: Dr Stuart Lange

Dr Stuart Lange is the National Director of the NZCN and is a Senior Research Fellow at Laidlaw College, where he was formerly Vice Principal. Stuart wrote and presented the historical DVD documentary Te Rongopai: 200 years of the Gospel in New Zealand, 1814-2014.