TURMOIL ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
At the time of this writing it is 455 days, 16 hours and 20 minutes until the next Presidential election. Do you already wish it was over? It’s just getting started and we may already be weary of the rhetoric that is going on. Promises! Promises! “If you elect me, I will do….” Really? Wow, that would be unique, wouldn’t it?
Several years ago Merle Haggard recorded a song entitled “Rainbow Stew” in which he sang, “When a President goes through the White House door , Does what he says he’ll do, We’ll all be drinkin’ that free bubbleubb, And eatin’ that rainbow stew.”
As citizens of the United States, we have the privilege of voting. We enjoy some freedoms that others do not have; and as we listen to the grandiose eloquence of the candidates, we tend to forget some things. Here are some reminders:
Our allegiance is to Christ and not to a candidate. As a Christian we wear the name of Christ (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). We were baptized into the name of Christ (Acts 2:38). Paul admonished us to have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5). Our abode here is temporary because our citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20). However, remember that we live in this world (John 17:11) and cannot stick our heads in the sand as if what we see does not exist. While we live in the world, we are not of it (John 17:14).
Our allegiance is to principle and not party. Our stand must be upon the word of God and not the platform of a political party. The Bible is to be the guide of the Christian. David wrote, “Therefore I love thy commandments above gold: yea, above fine gold” (Ps. 119:127). He also wrote, “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day” (Ps. 119:97). We will be judged by the Holy Word of God (Rev. 20:11-15) and not some words of men written to win elections.
Our allegiance is to righteousness not results. We must support what is right, not what will win. As far as the world was concerned, Jesus was hated, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you’ (John 15:18). All of us want to be on the winning side, it is our nature, but righteous trumps results, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 13:34). The Christian must stand for what is right. God said to Satan, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15). Satan bruised the heel of Christ at the crucifixion, but Christ was victorious and rose from the dead and gave a mortal wound to the devil (1 Cor. 15:50-58).
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).
Enjoy the next 455 days, 15 hours and 31 minutes.