(This entire article has been formatted for distribution. Click Presidential Election to download. You may also add a link to your website and newsletters. Share broadly.)
Per chance you have been living under a rock this past year and have not heard, there is an election happening in the United States this coming November. Americans will go to the polls and cast a ballot for the person they want to be their next President.
To vote for our national leaders is a privilege in our country. I’m aware every person reading this article does not have this privilege. While there are many things wrong with our country, to be able to vote is one of the good things.
I do thank God I’m an American. I trust wherever you live, you thank God for His sovereign decision to let you be the nationality you are. I do not see myself better than any other people group. I’m thankful for His mercies to me and to you.
I’m a foreigner
With that said, I do not see my Americanism as the most important thing in my life. Being an American is a temporal condition. My true status is that of an alien–this is not my home.
Like my brother Abraham from the Old Testament, I live here as though I am living in a foreign land. Similar to him, God has called me to live in America, but I only live here in a “tent,” not as though this is the end of my journey.
By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. – Hebrews 11:9-10 (ESV)
I’m passing through my current country and my loyalties to it are as deep as the call of God on my life to be here. When God calls me to my home, I will gladly kiss this place goodbye and follow my LORD to His place of promise.
Because I know this place is not my final destination and I’m only a steward of my temporary existence here on earth, my heart is not troubled by this election. I will cast my vote and I will pray for God’s will to be done. And I will rest in my LORD.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. – John 14:1-3 (ESV)
My life on earth reminds me of going on a vacation. I go on a vacation for a short period of time. I act responsibly while I’m on vacation, but I’m also fully aware our vacation spot is not our home.
As much as I have enjoyed all of our vacations, my heart has always longed for home. You probably have had the same feelings. After a while you long for your pillow, on your bed, in your home. That is the way I think about heaven. I long for heaven.
Temporary stewardship
Meanwhile, back on earth I have a responsibility to make God’s name great. Christians don’t divorce themselves from who they are and the Christlike example they are to live before others.
No matter where we go, our goal is to make God’s name great, even on vacation, while relaxing in the sun. We are stewards of God’s blessings at all times. As an American I’m called to steward my Americanism, even though it is a temporary condition.
Therefore, this November I will do my duty. I will vote for a candidate. I think most Christians think this way. We are stewards of this gift of life and casting a vote is one way we can steward the responsibility of being an American.
I’ve never thought about not voting. It’s something I do because I care about this country. While I’m a strong Sovereigntist, I also believe in human responsibility. I’m comfortable living in the mystery of God’s sovereign control and my responsibility to vote.
Lucia and I are passing our stewardship vision on to our kids. They go with us to vote, though they don’t vote. We make it a family event. They are too young to understand the process, but they love the process.
We typically take cookies or some other sweets to the poll volunteers and thank them for their passion to serve us. My children usually get stickers and another family memory is archived in our minds.
My hope is that the process of voting will be one of many ways my kids will think about stewarding their many mercies from the Lord. When their time comes, I hope they will automatically “go to the polls” and do their duty.
The person I’m voting for this November
I was recently asked who I was going to vote for in November. We have two main candidates running. One of these guys will win. Neither candidate carries a true Christian message or fully embraces our Christian values. This is normal when it comes to secular events like national elections.
Christian candidates tend to get shouted down or marginalized when it comes to the popular vote. Though Christ was not running for office, that culture made doubly sure He was not put in a political position of power.
If you would like to read the rest of this article, click God’s Man and head over to our Member Site.
photo credit: MalNino via photopin cc
