In Lord's crest, the Lion of Judah holds a broken heart

February 24, 2003

ANOTHER VIEW:
In Lord's crest, the Lion of Judah holds a broken heart
___By Terry Cosby
___We identify people, places and things in our lives by various ways. We use our Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, addresses and phone numbers. These numbers apparently communicate a lot about us. In the wrong hands, maybe too much. In the right hands, information on our identity could be lifesaving.
___In the olden days, and I mean really olden days, a family crest was used to identify folks. My family has one. My family traces its history back to at least 1066 in Leicestershire, England. Some people who research those things say it's more like 880 A.D., but who's counting? We probably were known as Cossibyes then, and the name has undergone a couple of minor changes, but the crest apparently has stayed the same.
___The crest is shaped like a shield. It has a chevron. It has three leopard-like creatures on it. On top, it has a griffin (the mythical animal--part eagle, part lion) with a spear. And on the crest, "sub liberate quietum" is emblazoned. The translation is something like "before liberty, peace," meaning where there is freedom, there is peace or peace comes only under freedom.
___I thought about that phrase several times over the past few weeks. I thought about it because it appears we may be about to go to war.
___It is a war I don't want, for all the reasons sane people don't want war. But in this world, we don't always get to deal with sane people, do we? It is a war I hope is avoided, for all the reasons sane people want to avoid war. But I also know people must possess freedom to live in peace.
___My family apparently has known that for centuries. Your family knows it too.
___I also know I do not possess the information, the wisdom, nor possibly the stomach to know what is best. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 13: "He (government) does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrong doers." Does that apply to our current situation with Iraq? Questions of boundaries, just-war theories, oil, economic woes, human rights and terrorism stir up the whirlwinds of war, and it's difficult to see through the dust to proper decisions.
___So, I pray for President Bush and his advisers, that the wisdom of God be theirs in abundance. I hope and pray for a miraculous intervention by the Spirit of God to prevent the need for war. I pray and trust that officials we've elected will act wisely, faithfully, courageously and redemptively; and I pray that sons and daughters we've birthed to enjoy life and its freedoms may be protected from harm. And if that be not possible in each situation in the battles of war, may their sacrifice be ever felt in the freed hearts of the people for whom they paid the ultimate price.
___The griffin on my family's coat of arms holds a spear. Interestingly, it is broken. Was it broken in battle? Was it broken in victory? Was it broken symbolically to show the price exacted for peace under liberty?
___Wars happen in our sinful, human condition. Men and governments intent on power, greed and injustice will rule with fear, hatred and oppression. But they will not have the last word. Another Warrior already has spoken that word.
___The Lion of the Tribe of Judah came and waged war for the hearts of people. It was that Lion that acted courageously, faithfully and redemptively. His weapons were love, forgiveness, justice and freedom. Our Lord won that battle but paid a terrible price.
___I imagine on the Lord's family crest, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah does not hold a broken spear like my family's griffin. Indeed, he may hold a broken heart until the day his children's broken hearts are healed and the spears of battle are broken forever.
___To that day when we break our spears of war and lay them at the feet of the Lion with the broken heart, ... amen.

___Terry Cosby is pastor of First Baptist Church in Hereford

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