Paul says it well, “they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie” (2Th 2:10-11) I rejoiced that Mike Pence will become Governor Mike Pence for Indiana, but regarding many of the other elections, I admit that I’m disappointed. I’m thankful that history never depends on man and I will never trust in man. Jeremiah warned Israel, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. (Jer 17:5-8) When Jeremiah prophesied, Israel was in a downward spiral to her fait accompli.
I’m not disappointed in those who achieved personal victory, even if I didn’t vote for some of them. I’m disappointed in where my country is spiritually. I realize today how deluded we are in our thinking. We Christians have not fared well in living out the gospel message and discipling people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ and to holiness in spiritual discipleship.
The vote tells me several things about my country. First, we are more concerned about self than principle. We would rather get what we can get for free than live principles of hard work and doing what is best for our community.
It has been alleged that Benjamin Franklin wrote, “When the people find they can votethemselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.” Whether he said it or not, it’s a true statement. As the political pundits discussed why some won and why others lost, the bottom line is a spiritual issue. People are selfish and would put aside principle and vote for freebies they can get. Fifty percent of American people pay a total of 3.4 percent of the federal income tax receipts. Forty-seven percent are receiving food stamps. I am troubled by much of the greed of the wealthy, but I’m also troubled by the entitlement mentality of my less well off brethren.
Ron Paul lives on principle and many of his ideas should have been adopted by both of the parties. He said,
“People do not want anything cut…They want all the bailouts to come. They want the Fed to keep printing the money. And they don’t believe that we’ve gone off the cliff or are close to going off the cliff. They think we can patch it over, that we can somehow come up with some magic solution. But you can’t have a budgetary solution if you don’t change what the role of government should be. As long as you think we have to police the world and run this welfare state, all we are going to argue about is who will get the loot.”
Secondly, we care about present personal rights than biblical ethics. A majority of youth, women, those in labor unions and non-whites in America voted for President Obama and only white males voted in majority for Mitt Romney. I’m not anti-any-group. Jesus died for every person. There are clear biblical principles that are more important than my “rights” or desires.
I can learn from anyone and I need others to complement what God has given me to do on earth. Yet, as a country, we’re more concerned as a nation about personal rights like women’s rights than the right of the unborn baby. We’re more concerned about who will pay for my education of reconstructed history than someone who wants students to learn true constitutional history. We’re more concerned about creature comforts, vacation, high pay for mediocre work than a system that allows people to be rewarded for excellent hard work. We’re more concerned about getting the golden eggs from the government for free because we came from a country of oppression than following the guidelines everyone else has to follow.
Thirdly, we get sucked into hype and misinterpretation rather than truth. The two senator hopefuls from Missouri and Indiana made comments that were distorted and likely caused their losses. Todd Akin from Missouri, made the comment about “legitimate rape” which was extremely an unfortunate choice of words, much like Richard Murdock’s comment, “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that is something that God intended to happen.” Murdock’s statement is easily misunderstood if people don’t listen to understand. Akin did not speak well and did not handle things well. Murdock was blasted by the viral threat of digital gossip. The situation was indicative of where our country is spiritually. But I don’t put my hope in people or my country.
My hope is in nothing less that Jesus Christ. This vote merely means there are many more opportunities to penetrate the world with the gospel and I need to use every day for clear thinking and effective discipleship. The following words are my hope:
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
Let me address specifically tomorrow, how my country has revealed that its eyes are divided and away from Jesus Christ.
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