Does anybody know the name of the man who was President of the United States for one day?

President James Polk spent his last day as president on March 3, 1849, and at midnight, Polk was out of office.  The vice-presidential term of George M. Dallas also ended at the same time.  The presidential successor, Gen. Zachary Taylor, a staunch church goer, refused to be sworn in on March 4, 1849 because it was a Sunday.  He said, “Going to church was a higher priority than becoming president of the United States.”  He postponed his inauguration until Monday, March 5.

So who was the President on March 4, 1849?  In 1849 the Senate president pro tempore immediately followed the vice president in line of presidential succession.  U.S. Senator David Atchison of Missouri was serving as president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate at the time.  So, it has been claimed that Atchison served as U.S. President for one day: March 4, 1849.

Here’s another question: what is more important than becoming President of the United States?

Zachary Taylor’s answer: going to a church service on Sunday.

Here’s the full answer: Being a follower of Jesus Christ, a Christian, is more important than being President of the United States.

The President of the United States is one of the most powerful men in the world.  Yet, each president serves a maximum of two terms.  The effects of his presidency (good or bad) can last for decades, but his authority lasts only as long as his presidency.

The greatest problem that plagues our world, our nation, and every individual is sin, because sin separates us from God and puts us on the path of destruction (Isaiah 59:1-2; Matthew 7:13-14).  The President can’t solve the sin problem, but Jesus can… and He did.  The President can’t give eternal life.  But Jesus can... and He will.

Jesus, the sinless Son of God, died on the cross for our sins so that we can receive forgiveness and the gift of eternal life.  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Jesus “was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification [our being “right” with God]” (Romans 4:25).  Now, He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords.

God will save from sin and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

As important as the presidency of the United States is, the President’s authority is temporary and limited.  No matter who is President, Jesus is the King.  Jesus is also our Savior and Lord who alone can save us for eternity.

The King says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

Won’t YOU?

-- David A. Sargent 

* Information gleaned from Paul Harvey News and Wikipedia as cited in www.ministry127.com and “President for a Day” from the United States Senate website, www.senate.gov.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org