It’s election season. It is an inescapable reality. Whether you turn on the TV or radio or your home phone is ringing off the hook with “surveys” we are continually assaulted with messages for or against one person or another, for or against a proposal. I tried to get to know the candidates and what they stand for. I tried to inform myself of what the issues behind the proposals, but at this point I just want it to be over!
But alas, I must wait until November 6th. In the meantime I am staying open to what God might want to teach me through all of this. Here is what I have discovered so far…
God is in charge. I can understand being passionate about your party, candidate, or issue, but I (we) must not lose sight of the fact that God chooses who will be President (and all the way down to local government). Consider these verses from Scripture…
He (God) changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. Colossians 1:16
Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying don’t vote, YES go vote! I’m just saying, that as I am sitting in my voting booth, I am somehow cooperating with God to choose (or not choose) the next leader that HE has established. God is Sovereign over who is in the White House. He is Sovereign over who wins local elections. He establishes kings and deposes them. God is Sovereign over dictatorships as well as democracies.
What’s MY responsibility and what is the Government’s? This election has been saturated with talk of the economy, education, & healthcare. Even during the foreign policy debate, they talked about domestic economy, education, etc… This election has gotten me thinking about what I depend upon the government for and what I take responsibility for. After thinking about this for a while, I have to say that Biblically, it is MY responsibility to educate my children. It is MY responsibility to care for the poor in my community. It is MY responsibility to give care and comfort to the hurting and sick. It is MY responsibility to provide for my family. This doesn’t mean that I think schools are bad, or programs to care for the poor and sick are wrong. I will support those and use them. But I must not abdicate my role as “salt and light” in this world and depend on the government to do it.
How ever this election turns out, I can rest in the Sovereignty of God that he has it all worked out. I hope you will have a restful Tuesday evening as you watch the election results, because you know that God is still in charge.
DC