What an election we had this past week. We had some surprises and some disappointments. We had some big wins and some down right losses. It was a crazy week this past week. However, there is one thing that needs to be said and one thing that needs to be understood:
Your vote doesn’t matter.
Now, before you all walk out on me, let me explain. I’m sure everyone here listening imagined that I was talking about the elections that took place last week here in Texas and in the United States of America. Well, I was referring to the election that matters the most, the Elect of God.
Elect (eklektos) — The people God foreknew from the foundation of the world that would belong to Him in Christ; those who are chosen by God.
Ephesians 1:4 — “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”
When it comes to political elections, it is good to vote, to be informed, and care about decisions that affect your community. However, those things have their place within our walk with Christ. At the end of the day, our deepest identity, our greatest hope, and our highest allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ, first.
There are a few things to keep in mind about our Christian Election during this season:
1.
Your
vote doesn’t determine who sits on the throne
While our vote does matter on the political landscape here in America, it has
no bearing when it comes to God’s sovereign authority.
Psalm 103:19 — “The Lord
has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.”
God HAS established His throne in heaven, regardless of what you and I think.
He did not consult us or the angels on our thoughts or opinions on the matter.
He said it and it was so. His kingdom rules over every other kingdom and
nation.
God’s authority does not
depend on public approval. He does not need a majority to remain sovereign. We
did not vote Him into power, and we cannot vote Him out.
Earthly leaders serve for a season. Their influence rises and falls in such
short moments. However, Jesus’ kingdom
has no expiration date. When the angel announced the birth of Jesus in Luke 1,
he declared that His kingdom would have no end. In other words, there will
never be a successor to Jesus Christ.
At the end of the day, God reigns overall regardless of what we think.
2.
Your
acceptance from God is not dependent on winning approval
Political candidates work hard to convince people to choose them. They
campaign, present their qualifications, and seek the approval of the American people. Why? Because that is the only
way they will be voted in to office.
However, it doesn’t work that way in God’s kingdom. At times we can begin
approaching God the same way: trying to build a record impressive enough for God
to accept us. However, Ephesians 2 teaches that salvation comes by grace
through faith.
Ephesians 2:8-10 — “8 For
by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is
the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we
are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand that we should walk in them.”
We cannot earn our election through good works, religious activity, or an
impressive reputation. His purpose is to bring us into the family of God by
grace through Jesus Christ.
3.
Your
election should be evident in your life
1 Peter 2:9 — “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who
called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
We have been chosen (elected) by God to be a holy people. It is through our
holiness that we proclaim the wonderful praises of the one who brought us out
of darkness and into His marvelous light! That is what God expects of those who
He has elected as His chosen people. You see, belonging to Jesus should be
visible in how we live. People should know who you belong to first: Jesus
Christ.
Your Christian election
should be more evident in your life than the person you elected.
People may know you by your political convictions. But do they also see love,
patience, humility, and self-control?
• Do your conversations reveal the character of Christ?
• Does your response to disagreement reflect the One you
confess as Lord?
• If someone looked through your social media, listened
to your conversations, or watched how you treated an opponent, what would they
learn about your allegiance?
We should examine ourselves honestly…
• Are we becoming more gracious or more contemptuous?
• More truthful or more willing to repeat anything that
helps our side?
• More faithful to Jesus or more consumed by political
conflict?
• Our lives should make it clear to whom our allegiance
belongs to.
4.
Your
Christian citizenship comes with responsibilities
Philippians 3:20 — “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also
eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
God bless the USA! What a blessing it is to live in America. I know you all
agree! However, before we are citizens of America, as Christians we are
citizens of heaven first. And because of this, we have a Christian
responsibilities that we must hold true to first.
Colossians 1:27 — “Only
let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and
see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one
spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
Our heavenly citizenship must govern our responses here on earth.
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
Our Christian Responsibilities:
I.
Pray
for those in authority
1 Timothy 2:1-2 — “1
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in
authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and
holiness.”
•
We are to pray
for those in authority.
•
We are not
limited in that responsibility to the leaders we supported.
•
Pray for wisdom,
integrity, salvation, and willingness to uphold justice.
•
We do not have to
approve of everything a leader does to pray for them.
II.
Honor
your leaders and speak truthfully
Titus 3:1-2 — “Remind
them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every
good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all
humility to all men.”
•
We must honor and
respect those in authority.
•
We must be ready
to do good, avoid slander, and show gentleness.
•
We can disagree
with those in leadership without being disrespectful.
•
Let us speak no
evil of anyone.
III.
Respond
with humility and love
Ephesians 4:29-32 —
“29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do
not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking
be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
•
If your preferred
candidate won, do not use someone else’s disappointment as an opportunity to gloat or
humiliate them.
•
If your preferred
candidate lost, do not allow resentment to influence how you treat people.
IV.
Focus
on the mission
Philippians 1:12-14
— “12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to
me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that
it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my
chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having
become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without
fear.”
•
There are still
people who do not know the Lord.
•
There are
disciples that still need to be made.
•
Let us not be so
consumed with who holds office that we lose sight of mission God has called us
to.
