Queen Elizabeth II: A Life of Christian Service by Chelsea Temple
When we think of royalty, we think of jewels, castles, and the supreme right to rule. What we don’t often consider though is the dedication, service, and loyalty that people who wear the crown have to embody. Queen Elizabeth II reigned for seventy years over Great Britain and the Commonwealth. She held the title not only of the monarch but also, Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Titles that were first conferred to Henry the Eighth during his tumultuous lifetime.
Queen Elizabeth had a deeply rooted faith in God. She often cited her faith in speeches across the commonwealth, and in her yearly Christmas speeches. In one Christmas speech, she said, “For me, the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life.” A whole episode of “The Crown”, a show dedicated to depicting the life and history of the British royal family, showed Prince Philip exploring the boundaries of faith in his own life.
When you think of Queen Elizabeth you think of a woman who has kept her promise. When she first took the throne, she vowed that her life “whether it be long or short shall be devoted to service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong”.
When some would have called for her abdication in favor of a younger monarch, she pushed through. As she saw it, there is no retirement for royalty because royalty is not a calling that you can deny, it is a birthright ordained by God.
Now, upon her death, thousands will travel to London’s Westminster Abbey so that they can pay their final respects to the Queen. The Queen will lie in state for five days so that all of her subjects can come and say goodbye one more time. As I sit and watch the coverage of the viewing through Youtube, I am astounded by the number of people who are coming through. A chorus of people, old, young, mothers with their babies, celebrities, elderly people, and people on crutches, all of these people filed in and out one after another after having waited for hours and hours.
I watched as these people who are from different stages of life and from different economic and social backgrounds came to pay their respects, and I noticed a common element: each of these people whether they were crying or stone-faced, whether they prayed or crossed themselves, they were here to honor one who has been lost. On the video feed, you could hear nothing but footsteps.
No doubt that Queen Elizabeth knew or at least had some idea of the effect that she had on the world, and yet, I think that the part of her legacy that isn’t be talked about enough, is her Christian faith. As a devout woman of faith, this aspect of Queen Elizabeth’s reign cannot be discounted. She attended church regularly, with the rest of the royal family joining her for Christmas service. It was a reminder to the world of a steadfast faith in God.
I think that we need those reminders. It always pleasantly surprises me when I read a book or when I look up an actor to see that God has been listed on the dedication page or in the Acknowledgment Section at the end of the novel or when I see that an actor that I love has grew up in the faith. It is a nice touch in a world that is often clouded with negatives and nihilism.
In this life, we may not have jewels or millions of dollars, but we are royalty. We are royalty under Christ the King of Kings. We may not be able to live in a castle, but one day there will be a mansion waiting for us in Heaven. Our lives may be burdened by many obstacles and struggles that those in the upper crest of society will never fully know, but one day those burdens will be lifted and we will be free.
Queen Elizabeth II was 96 years old when she passed. She served seventy years on the throne. She performed hundreds of official engagements a year, hosting state dinners and raising money for those in need. She traveled to more countries than most would even think to visit. She raised children, she loved her husband, and she served her people.
As much as Queen Elizabeth vowed that she would stay faithful and work for those in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth whether her life be short or long, we too should live a life of service whether that be short or long. Serve others. Serve the Lord. So, that by serving on Earth we can gain greater glory for our Father in Heaven.
Chelsea Temple is an English teacher from East Tennessee. Her favorite part of having a relationship with the Lord is that she always has someone to see her classic "side eye" look. She believes that the Lord appreciates her humor while she tries to appreciate all of his. She attends Lyons Park Missionary Baptist Church in Church Hill, Tennessee.