We sort of know this is not our true home, but we kind of
act as though it is at times. To my
brothers and sisters at Branches Church OC, my hope is to come to you and
encourage your heart and lift it up to God in the midst of some interesting
times and an even more interesting election season in our country. I simply want you to know that this world is
not our home. We are aliens in a strange
place where the sin and curse of death and its sting is very present, but shall
soon be gone when Christ returns. Until then, we trust in God.
So, I have 4 reflections in the midst of the current
transitions in our country. And we pray
and hope for a peaceful transfer of power, which is our good tradition.
1. Trust God Because He
Turns the Kings Heart however He pleases
Prov. 21:1 “The King’s heart is a stream of water in the
hand of the Lord: he turns it wherever he will.” (ESV)
The King of Kings and Lord of Lords has good and perfect
purposes. His will shall be accomplished in History as He has decreed before
the foundations of the world. This is
not to be fatalistic but to say that the true sovereign is God and He will
accomplish His Will.
This means that all things are in the hands of God. This takes much out of my hands and puts me
in a place of awe, humility, trust, and prayer.
2. My Christian Duty
Is To Pray For Leaders
We must be a people who pray for each other and also our leaders.
If you reflect for a moment and cannot
remember uttering a single prayer for president Obama, then it’s time to get to
work and make it your practice of praying for your leaders.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “First of all, then, I urge that
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people,
For kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and
quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing
in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all people to be saved and to come
to the knowledge of the truth.” (ESV)
God saves leaders and can turn and save the hardest
heart. In the book of Daniel, God uses a
wicked King, Nebuchadnezzar, not only for his purposes but He also humbles him
and transforms his life.
So pray!
3. Christians Have
Better Business Than Time To Divide Over Politics
We have a better work and calling by God. And there are many things in this world that
can take us off track of what really matters.
Christians must not divide over politics. Remember that politics and leaders are not
your god, like it is for some. If it is
your functional god, you will get enraged when things don’t go your way.
Quite frankly, my biggest concern is not this election or
any election. A far greater concern of
mine is that we have many Christians with splinters in their butts from sitting
in a pew for years and no scar tissue in their knees from prayer. We
have more calluses in our hearts towards lost people than callused feet that
walk with the good news of Christ to our friends, family, and neighbors in the
city that God has ordained we live in.
Consider this! Heaven doesn’t rejoice over elections and
governments. Heaven rejoices when one
single lost person is found and comes home to the Father.
Luke 15:1-7 “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all
drawing near to hear him. And the
Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats
with them.’ So he told them this
parable: What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that
is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his
shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes
home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice
with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. Just so,
I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents and
then over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “ (ESV)
If you are on mission with God and rejoicing in what heaven
rejoices in, then you will find joy in what makes the Father happy. And when did it become strange for others to
judgmentally say of you, “That guy hangs out with sinners.” Remember, it’s also
what they said of Jesus.
4. This Is Not My
Home
This place is simply not our home. While it would be better
to be with the Lord, we walk with God while we are here. Our home is to come
and it is so much better.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 “So we are always of good courage. We
know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we
walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather
be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or
away, we make it our aim to please him.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each
one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or
evil.” (ESV)
Do not act as though this is our home, brothers and sisters. There is much kingdom work to do and we just
don’t have the time to be divided over matters of this dying world. It will pass away like a breath of air on a cold
morning. 10,000 years from now, we who hope in Christ will look back on any
given historical event like a dew drop on a windshield in the morning that
blows away with the start of an engine and a short drive. Many events will be insignificant. What will
matter is our labor for Christ and His kingdom.
You may passionately participate and even lovingly debate
over what our county has granted us to partake in, but we must do so without
bitterness or malice, because there is no place for such things among those
whose hope is in the eternal Christ. Be
like Christ, who could be angry at the right things and remain without sin!
Lastly, a word to cause deep reflection: Brothers, if you
are too comfortable or hope too much in this place, then maybe this place has
become your home. Turn to Christ while
there is time!
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