Reagan's Shining
City
Paul Perkins
June 7, 2004
Ronald Reagan spoke of America as a shining city
upon a hill for all mankind to see – a beacon of light in a dark
world. Following the heels of Jimmy Carter, who had described
America as a country suffering from a deep malaise, Reagan never
for a moment expressed skepticism in the American people. His
vision of America was one in which its best days were in the
future and one where a bright dawn was always ahead. In one of
the last public statements of his life, Reagan said, “Whatever
else history may say about me when I'm gone, I hope it will
record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst
fears....” This is true: Ronald Reagan’s optimism inspired a
generation, and will never be forgotten. But there’s more to
Reagan than his undying optimism.
Upon hearing of his death, I turned on the radio
and listened to a country in mourning. I heard people from both
sides of the political spectrum expressing their heartfelt loss
of one of America’s greatest leaders. After talking to different
people, the host read something that tore at my throat and
brought tears to my eyes: a statement from Michael Reagan, the
President’s adopted son. In this letter, he explained that the
source of his dad’s perseverance and determination came from the
Lord. In closing the short letter, Michael wrote, “I am secure
in the knowledge that he is with his Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ in heaven. The greatest gift my father ever gave me was
the simple knowledge that I would see him in heaven one day.”
This was Ronald Reagan – a man driven by his faith to
extraordinary lengths, making him into a modern-day hero.
After the 1981 assassination attempt that nearly
took his life, Reagan reevaluated his life, and came to the
realization that God had placed him on this earth and saved him
from that bullet for a specific reason. Whether that reason was
to save the world in its battle with the Soviet Union – the Evil
Empire – or to reinvigorate the US economy, or to see to it that
the American spirit of optimism was reborn, the point is that he
knew that he was on this earth for a reason. Instead of waiting
for that specific purpose to come down and reveal itself, Reagan
acted. More than that, he acted on principles founded upon his
deep faith.
Ronald Reagan was more than America’s President
through the 1980s, he was – and is – America at its best. Why?
Is it because he rose from a broken family with a drunk as a dad
to a lifeguard who saved dozens of lives, to a star football
player at a small college, to a sports radio announcer, to a
Hollywood actor, to the Governor of California, to the President
of the United States? Or was it because he was able to tap into
something deep inside of all of us by appealing to the best in
us, and painting a picture that we all wanted to live in? Or was
it his ability to see the battle between good and evil as
something that must be fought with a brave and steadfast
determination? Or was it his humor that could light up a room,
or his genuine humility? Or was it his stalwart conservative
principles that he not only stood for, but in which an entire
revolution is credited to him? Maybe it was one of many of these
many reasons – I believe it was all of them.
In remembering Ronald Reagan, President George W.
Bush said something that should inspire all of us and give us
great hope. He said, “Ronald Reagan won America's respect with
his greatness, and won its love with his goodness. He had the
confidence that comes with conviction, the strength that comes
with character, the grace that comes with humility, and the
humor that comes with wisdom. He leaves behind a nation he
restored and a world he helped save.” President Bush closed his
comments by saying, “His work is done, and now a shining city
awaits him. May God bless Ronald Reagan.”
Ronald Reagan knew that his dream of a shining
city awaited him after he passed through the sunset of his life
– and the fact is that it awaits all of us who know Christ.
Let’s thank God for such a great man, and such a great gift. And
let’s pray that, we too, will fight for what is right, stand for
those principles we believe in, inspire hope in those around us,
and share with others what Michael Reagan said was the greatest
gift his dad gave him: an assurance that because of Jesus, he
will see his dad in heaven one day.
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