Seventy years is a lot to reflect on. Our queen is a very public figure with very private thoughts. What might she be thinking as she looks back on her reign?

There will be precious memories. The births of Andrew and Edward. Her silver and golden jubilees. Visits to the commonwealth and beyond. Years with Prince Philip at her side. The marriage and growing family of William and Kate.

There will be painful memories. 1992, her ‘annus horribilis’ with the marriages of Charles, Andrew and Anne failing and Windsor castle on fire. The fallout from Diana’s death in 1997. The deaths of her mother, her sister Margaret and husband Philip.

Our queen may well look back on her coronation and things she promised. One was this:

Archbishop: “Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel?”

Queen: “All this I promise to do . . . So help me God.”

The Queen’s Coronation Oath, 1953

What will the Queen be thinking as she looks forward? Her reign is coming to a close. She will soon come face to face with the ultimate King.

In her 2011 Christmas broadcast, our queen spoke of the need of forgiveness

“God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.”

Queen’s Christmas Broadcast 2011

Just like our queen, we have both precious and painful memories of the past. And just like our queen we need to be ready for the future.

When we meet God, queen and commoner will all be alike. The only entrance qualification for heaven is to be forgiven – to know that Jesus died for our sins in our place, and to have sought his forgiveness.

Do you know the Saviour and his power to forgive?

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