I was discussing on Facebook today, my amazement at the response of Australians to Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th president of the US. I have never seen such a reaction amongst friends to a new Australian Prime Minister - I mean, I could name several people I know who got up at 3am to watch the inauguration live to air.Please don't mistake my reaction for disinterest or apathy for what has happened in the last 24 hours. I know that this was a landmark in many ways, not least because Obama is America's first black president (particularly poignant the day following Martin Luther King Day). It is also, of course, worth noting that people are really hoping for change in an America that is currently economically unstable. These things do matter.
However, can anyone remember the last time that Australian TV stations ran 7 hours straight of telecasts of the swearing in of a new Australian Prime Minister? I would have quite happily watched a repeat of the inauguration speech to hear what Obama had to say, without getting up at 3am or watching a further 7 inane hours of people walking down roads in Washington. One of my friends on Facebook argued that questions could be asked about 7 straight hours of cricket - for five days in a row - as well (good point, I have to agree!).
I guess my greater concern about people's response to Obama is that there seems to be enormous expectation and hope placed in a mere man. No doubt, he is an amazing orator. Hopefully, he will be a good leader - of America and the greater western world. However, he is not God and it would be wrong to expect him to be the saviour of America, let alone the rest of the world.
God has provided us with a Saviour already - his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus died on a cross 2000 years ago so that we could have our relationship with God restored. Through this, we can know that we will have eternal life - a life that will be without sin or decay.
Now, that's a hope that's worth holding onto!
