Election Thoughts...
We
are about to reach the end of our nation’s quadrennial frenzy over
who shall occupy the positions of power in our government. We have
been bombarded with campaign ads decrying the opposition candidate as
evil incarnate with the one making the ad claiming to be the only
hope we have of holding back the wave of destruction the opposition
will most certainly bring.
But the child of God does not
have to participate in that frenzy. We do not have to act as though
the things we hold most dear are put at risk by the possibility that
this or that candidate will win. In fact, if we are in great distress
over the possibility that what we hold most dear will be lost, it is
likely that we are holding the wrong things most dear!
There
are genuine believers on both sides of the political aisle of our
nation (yes, there really are), and seeing that they are not only
believers but humans as well, they can get caught up in the stress of
a national election. I know I can. What can we do to settle our
nerves and calm our hearts as we go to the polls and await the
results?
Remember that our true citizenship is in heaven.
I am thankful to be a citizen of the USA. But if the USA were to fall
(as all nations eventually do) I will not lose my citizenship in
heaven. Part of the believer’s problem with stress and anxiety over
the outcome of elections is that he forgets where his true
citizenship lies so gets caught up in matters that pertain only to
this world.
Remember that our Lord, Who loved us and gave
Himself for us, is immovably seated upon the throne of the universe,
and He rules with undeniable power and authority. When men resist
Christ’s Lordship, God doesn’t worry; He laughs; He has them in
derision. Our king always wins.
Remember that, whoever
wins our national, state, and local elections, he or she will be the
one God wants to be there, put in that place to do God’s will for
the benefit of His people. Every last one of them will do exactly
what God has ordained for them to do to drive history toward God’s
determined end. And that end is the eternal salvation of His
elect.
Remember that we are told not to fret when evil men
prosper, and seeing that we are exhorted against such fretting, we
can be certain there is no need for such fretting. In an evil world,
evil men will prosper. It has been that way ever since Adam sinned.
Yet these prospering evil men and women have never hindered the work
of God in the least but have, instead, been used of God to bring
about His sovereign will. It is God that has exalted them to their
position, and it is He that will remove them when He is done with
them.
Remember
that while the world is limited to seeking access to the positions of
power in this world, we who believe have free and constant access to
Him who rules all things and works all thing according to the counsel
of His own will. We can come to the throne of grace with confidence
that we will find the mercy we need to help us in any time of
need.
So, child of God, do not fret. Your Lord has every
one of the petty powers of this world under His control. He is not
worried about what is happening, and neither should you and I worry
about it. Does your guy win? Fine. Does the other guy win? Then say.
“Well, it appears that my Father believes that this person will
fulfill His purpose rather than the one I voted for. I guess I’ll
just trust the wisdom of my Father, pray for the one He has chosen,
and go on with my life.” The Hymn writer put it beautifully:
This
is my Father’s word. O, let me not forget,
That though the
wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my
Father’s world; the battle is not done.
Jesus who died shall
be satisfied,
And earth and heaven be one!
-preacher Joe Terrell
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