Jym Shorts

Jym Shorts - May 19, 2016

by Nate Gast on May 19, 2016

It is officially ‘election season’ in America. Candidate signs dot the landscape, mudslinging commercials fill the airwaves, and anxiety is palpable in the hearts of voters. Sadly, this anxiety flows deeply in the hearts of believers as well. I can’t tell you how many times in the past few months I have been told that ‘this election is the most important election in our nation’s history’ or that ‘if we don’t do something this country is going down the tubes.’ Now, let me be clear, I am not negating the civic duty that I believe Christians have to get involved in the political process, but I do want to remind us of a few Biblical truths to calm the anxiety that seems so prevalent in the church right now.

The first is that we were never called to be comfortable in this life. As followers of Christ we will always be aliens and exiles. Dare I say that the changing political climate in this country may be the best thing for those of us who are trying to find a sense of security and safety in a world where it doesn’t exist. We should never feel comfortable, secure, or satisfied with our money, our jobs, and certainly not a government made up of fallible and sinful men and women. They will always disappoint, fail, and yield to corruption. They are sinful people ruling sinful people in a sinful world.

Secondly, our citizenship is in heaven. That does not mean that we are not active participants in what goes on here, but ultimately we are sojourners in a foreign land. Should we expect to understand everything in this foreign culture? Should we expect every protection that natural citizens possess? Should we feel at home in exile? We can cry and grieve about what goes on around us, but at the end of the day, we are not staying here anyway. If you were to visit Mexico during one of their elections, you may find yourself having opinions on certain candidates, but if the ‘wrong’ candidate won, you would not despair, because you always knew you were going home and would leave it all behind anyway.

Finally, to fret about this election fails to understand that God not only raises up kings, but he also disposes of them and directs their steps while they rule. We have a faulty view of God’s sovereignty in this regard. God is not idly sitting by waiting to swoop in and fix any situation. He is actually causing it, using it, and driving it. Nothing escapes his reign or undermines his will. He is always in control and always working things for the pleasure of his will and for the exaltation of his great name. Despite the ego, Donald Trump is still at the disposal of our God. Despite the smugness, Hillary Clinton’s next breath is completely at the discretion of Almighty God… and Bernie Sanders can only give away resources that God entrusts to him.

Friends, if this election shakes the foundations of the church in America…all the better. We would all be better served by a stark reminder that we, like Abraham, are ‘looking to a city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God’ (Hebrews 11:10). America is not that city. Our 401k’s are not that security. Our elections are right in the center of God’s will. So relax - our God, our King, is a good ruler. He is just and kind and strong and protective of his people and his bride. He guides and directs all things…even dysfunctional elections and wicked nations. Besides, we are just visiting anyway and we get to go home to a perfect country one day. This is not that land.

Pastor Nate

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