TIME TO TRUST GOD

 

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.