There are two big groups of people in America today. You could call them the winners and the losers. The happy and the sad. The glad and the mad. The hopeful and the discouraged. Regardless of the group you may belong to, the LORD has a word for you:

If you are a Christian, your hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and His righteousness.

Both the optimist and the cynic probably needs to guard his/her heart today. Our victory was not secured on Tuesday night. No American election could accomplish such a lofty feat.

Success, victory, or sustained happiness has never been secured through a political system or humanistic agendas. Even those who adore Ronald Reagan did not see the changes which needed to happen in order to secure hope and lasting peace.

Abortion reigned before Reagan’s time in office and after he left. Poverty, unemployment, sickness, and death continues to conquer its victims. Things will be no different for the next four years.

Only the return of our true President and King will bring the hope and change we need. Anything else, whether democrat, republican, or independent is like putting a band-aid on a cancer patient.

Your purpose in a fallen world

It is fascinating and faith filling to observe how our Savior lived in and responded to the political system of His day. Though He did not agree with the system He lived confidently within the constraints of the system.

He could do this because He knew who He was and what He was about. He did not have misplaced hope or purpose. He did not come to make Israel a better place to live, but to make people better through regeneration (Matthew 10:34-39).

• Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. – John 3:7 (ESV)
• For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. – Luke 19:10 (ESV)
• I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose. – Luke 4:43 (ESV)

If your purpose is anything other than making people better by informing them about the Savior, you will probably be disappointed in this life. Driving anchors deep while expecting to find hope in this world leads to inevitable fruitlessness. We are not of this world (Hebrews 11:9).

They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. – Mark 4:18-19 (ESV)

The real test for all of us today is to assess what are the controlling thoughts of our minds. If you’re more critical than hope-filled, then there is a good chance the role of the government–whether good or bad according to your perspective–is more important to you than the role of God.

This little light of mine

It is not unusual for some of the most profound works of God to be put on display during some of the harshest and money grabbing political climates. Typically during times of unrest and discouragement the grace of God can have incredible impact on a culture.

In God’s economy the darker the sin, the brighter the grace of God. Through death comes life. Out of brokenness comes healing. The death of Christ was not the end of hope, but the beginning of everlasting life.

I voted, though I’m not a follower of Obama or Romney. I follow King Jesus and He is ruling as much today as He was yesterday. Nothing has changed for the Christian–Christ is still LORD. He still reigns.

Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. – Matthew 28:5-6 (ESV)

You only have one reason to be discouraged and that is if Christ is not your LORD. Listen to the words of the angel again: He has risen, as He said. If your man did not win it’s okay. He wasn’t your man anyway.

Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming when you will be scattered, each to his own home. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. – John 16:31-33 (ESV)

For further reading

• The perfect candidate
• The election from a Christian perspective (Get FULL five-page color layout of this article)
• How does your faith govern your heart this election season?

photo credit: atelier renskeherder via photopin cc

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Written by Rick Thomas

Rick has been training and counseling in the Upstate of South Carolina since 1997. After several years as a counselor and pastor he founded and launched his own training organization to assist Christians in a better understanding and practice of discipleship. Today his organization represents clients all over the world through his consulting, training, blogging, and coaching.

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