Proverbs 21:1 (NIV)
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a
watercourse wherever he pleases.
Today is
a day of anxiety for many people. As people go to the poles to cast their
votes, we anxiously await the outcome. This year, it seems like we are in a no-win
situation. Whichever candidate wins the presidency there will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth.
As
followers of Jesus, we need to step back and take a very different perspective
on what is happening. Unfortunately, for the last several decades, Christians
have placed their trust in political action and placed their hope in political
figures. This has taken our eyes off of Jesus. The Psalmist warns us that
placing our hope in politics is a dead end. Do not put your trust in
princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. Psalms 146:3 (NIV) It is
better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take
refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. Psalms 118:8-9 (NIV)
First,
we need to acknowledge that we live in a fallen world that is bent on leading
us away from God. In his letter to the Romans, Paul described the world we live
in in detail. See if his words don’t accurately depict the world in which we
live.
The wrath of God is being
revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who
suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is
plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of
the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have
been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are
without excuse.
For although they knew
God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their
thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became
fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like
mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them
over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading
of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,
and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever
praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave
them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for
unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with
women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts
with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their
perversion.
Furthermore, since they
did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over
to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled
with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of
envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers,
God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil;
they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve
death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those
who practice them. Romans 1:18-32 (NIV)
Second,
we need to remember that God uses flawed people to accomplish His purposes. He
allowed Babylon to capture Jerusalem and send His people into exile in order to
refine His people. He allowed Rome to be in control of the known world in order
to use their systems to expand the gospel to the world. Moses, David, Peter,
Paul were all flawed people that God used for His glory. So are you and I and
so are the people running for political office. God can use whomever He chooses
to accomplish His purposes.
It is
easy for us to despair in the face of a world that is spiraling down into destruction.
But our hope is not in a political party or social system. Our hope is in the
Living God, Jesus Christ. Jesus told his disciples not to live in fear, but to
live in confidence and hope, even in the face of evil. "I have told
you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
(NIV)
The
writer of Hebrews challenges us to get our eyes off of the world and fix them
firmly on Christ. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter
of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its
shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who
endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and
lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)
God is
calling us to stop putting our hope in particular political parties or systems
and place it firmly on Him. We need to stop trying to legislate righteousness
and start living righteously. The early church lived in a world much like ours
today. They transformed their world without any political power. They did it by
living godly lives in the face of the evil around them. The darker the day the
brighter the light will shine. Jesus has called us to be that light in a dark
world. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be
hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they
put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same
way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and
praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
We have
an obligation to be good citizens and do our part by expressing our right to vote.
It is essential that we are involved in shaping the government under which we
live. But we cannot place our faith in that government. Instead, we need to put
our trust in the one who has the ultimate say. As Larry Osborne has put it, we
need to remember that “God is in control of those who are in control.” However
this election shakes out, God is still on the throne and His plans and purposes
will prevail.
Isaiah 40:21-24 (NIV)
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the
beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits
enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to
live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to
nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they
take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind
sweeps them away like chaff.
