Election Thoughts: What Now?

 

It almost seems surreal that President Obama will be in office for four more years, sanctioning the merciless slaughter of thousands more helpless babies, re-defining God's sacred ordinance of marriage, redistributing wealth from those who actually worked for it to those who think they deserve a handout, plunging our nation even deeper into incomprehensible debt, and stripping the citizens of this country of the very freedoms for which this country was founded.

To be honest, although I voted for him, Mitt Romney would not have been much better.  The process of our country's deterioration may have slowed a little, but our country remains in a downward spiral.

A president or a political party cannot be blamed.  Is not America ruled by the people?  Have we not chosen the succession of political leaders throughout history?

It seems that with each term, the leaders that are elected are more and more corrupt.  Why?  Certainly some have made their way into office through unjust means, but most have been elected into office by people who share the values of those leaders.  In other words, corrupt leaders are elected by corrupt people.

Additionally, I am sickened by the fact that issues such as physician-assisted suicide, gay marriage and legalized recreational marijuana were even up for consideration on the ballots of several states.

How has our nation gotten to this point and what in the world do we do now?

We as Christians need to do the same things we should have been doing all along, but have miserably dropped the ball.

1. Pray for our leaders.  Pray for their salvation.  Pray for courage for the Godly leaders who are standing boldly for righteousness in the midst of perversity.  Instead of bashing the president, pray for him.   1 Timothy 2:1-4  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;   Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2. Witness.  Wicked people elect wicked leaders.  The people of this country are wicked because Christians have not been following God's command to preach the gospel to every creature.  Jesus is returning soon.  How many people will be left behind to suffer judgment because you did not tell them how they could be saved?

 

3. Get our eyes on Jesus.  We Christians have been living our lives with an earthly mindset rather than an eternal mindset.  We're enamored with the things of this world, and we have allowed them to distract us from laying up treasures in heaven where moth and rust will not corrupt and where thieves do not break through and steal.  Jesus has become only part of our life instead of the center of our life.  We prove our lack of love and devotion to Him by the way we spend our time, the way we spend our money, and the things that are important to us.  We enjoy earthly pleasures, but with subtlety they've blinded us to the fact that we're living lives no different than the world.  No wonder we're not seeing any positive change in our country!  We are becoming just like the unsaved who we would not expect to make Biblical decisions.  We need to remember the old song Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.  You may be spending time today ranting on Facebook about the negative direction our country is heading, but how much time have you spent in a quiet place getting to know Jesus better?

4. Trust God.  Worrying about the future is not going to change anything.  Instead, pray.  Then purposely think on good things.  Peace comes when you leave your life in God's hands.      Philippians 4:6-8  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

5. Look for our heavenly citizenship.  Although I believe we should do everything we can to be good American citizens, this is not my home.  In the midst of a description of heroes of the faith, the writer of Hebrews says this:  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.  As hostility toward Biblical values continues to rise, remember that this is only a temporary residence.   For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Our country needs revival, but it will only come from Christians who are totally enamored with Jesus, have turned their eyes from the pleasures this world has to offer, who love people as Christ loved us, and who are not afraid to stand up for what's right because they are looking for their eternal citizenship!