So, there’s an election today, and there seems to be record turnout already, judging by the reports from early voting. I took advantage of the opportunity to vote early, waited in line for an hour and 15 minutes during the first week to cast my ballot. Many people see this midterm election as an important one, and it is – they all are, really. BUT, may I offer a thought? As important as it may be in this time and place, it isn’t the most important thing, and a steady diet of political social media is toxic toward a more peaceful union these days.
It’s right to be a good citizen, an informed citizen, loving your neighbors by voting for what you believe will be best for the people, and voting as your conscience dictates. It’s also good to keep your politicking in perspective if you’re a Christian. You see, as Christians, our citizenship is really in Heaven.
Philippians 3:20-21
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
THIS is where our true hope lies and where we ought to be expending our most energy. As much as I want to be a good citizen of my earthly country, and I do, even more important is to represent my true citizenship well. Getting too spun up and bothered by who wins or loses a temporal election is not where I want my heart to beat. Whether this election turns out the way I hope or not, and I do have a definite opinion and will have real emotions on that, because there are important issues at stake, for sure, I want my true, deep, overriding, and abiding passion to be for Christ and His gospel.
With that in mind, it is extremely helpful to remember Who is actually in control of the nations, Who builds them up….and Who brings them down, Who blesses them…..and Who judges them. I’ve always loved Psalm 46 – and, PLEASE note, verse 10 has NOTHING to do with contemplative meditation as it’s so often used when taken out of context. It has everything to do with understanding that even the raging of the nations against their Creator will one day be stilled and cease when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Psalm 46
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 47:8-9
8 God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!
Tonight when we begin to see the election results, let us be very, very careful not to too heartily rejoice or too deeply mourn, no matter the results, because ultimately we who belong to Christ trust Him to do what is right – He will bless or judge our nation, and all the nations, as He sees fit, but our mission remains the same. We are to be ambassadors for Christ, proclaiming the message of reconciliation to God, the forgiveness of sins, to anyone who will hear.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
So, please, be a good citizen and vote wisely. Love your neighbors daily, even those with whom you disagree. But do not hang your hopes on earthly elections and do not find despair in them, either. We are ambassadors of Christ, and we have a very focused mission – to, as we go, make disciples, adding more voices to join in the great Hallelujah chorus of Heaven.
