"And he changeth the times and the seasons; He removethkings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise,
and knowledge to them that know understanding. He revealeth
the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness,
and the light dwelleth with him." ( Dn 2: 20-22 )
"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the
Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto
governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do
well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may
put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, and not
using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the
servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honour the king." ( I Pt 2: 13-17 )
Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto
governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do
well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may
put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, and not
using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the
servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood.
Fear God. Honour the king." ( I Pt 2: 13-17 )
6 comments:
Congratulations to Senator Barrack Hussein Obama, the President-Elect of the United States of America. Although, I had wished, hoped, and prayed that the outcome was different, I take comfort in knowing the God is Sovereign, and that the will of the people have spoken.
While, I contemplated leaving the country, I know that there are things much greater than a presidential election. Buying a new home, and having a new son, I want my son to know that America is the best last hope for freedom in the world. I want my son to know that America’s best days are never behind us, but always ahead of us.
This is why I am not leaving America. It is my faith and hope for a better tomorrow. That even in defeat there is solace in God’s divine wisdom and will. God puts us in places even when we are the minority to be the voice, the salt, and light in an unsavory and dark world.
While I know that the next four years of continued infanticide and socialism will prevail, I also know that in two years congressional elections may turn the tide just as it did in 1994 should President Obama swing the country too far left.
I also know that in 1976 after President Ford lost, that four years later President Reagan came and lead this nation through the greatest peacetime economic boom, and defeated an evil empire the Soviet Union.
I have not always been a Republican, in fact most of my life I consider myself a Democrat. In my first presidential election of 1988, I wrote in Jessie Jackson. In 1992, I voted for Ross Perot. In 1996, I voted for Senator Bob Dole, in 2000 and 2004 I voted for George W. Bush. My reasons are clear, I will as I have since 1994 voted pro-life, and I will continue to vote pro-life until my life on this planet is over. The sanctity of human life will always prevail in my choice. That is why I voted for John McCain, but tomorrow is another day, and instead of doing something hasty or regrettable, I will continue to put God, my family, and my nation first.
That is why I moved to Olathe, to be closer to my church, Redeemer Presbyterian, to give my son the opportunity to attend its fine school Westminster Christian Academy, and to be committed to worshiping God, studying His Word, and proclaiming His Gospel to the World. As the prophet, Isaiah proclaimed:
Isaiah 49:7
7 Thus says the Lord,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation,
the servant of rulers:
“Kings shall see and arise;
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
God is Holy, Sovereign, Just, Loving, and Merciful, and in the words of the Psalmist, I leave you with these words.
Psalm 112:6-7
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
I really needed this perspective from God's word this morning. Thank you for posting it.
"In God, whose word I praise,in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.What can flesh do to me?" Psalm 56:4
Emily V
God is Sovereign!
Just a few thoughts:
Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
-Proverbs 14:34
“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that His justice cannot sleep forever.” “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that their liberties are the gift of God?” Thomas Jefferson (During the revolution)
"The biblical believer as citizen of this remarkable country yearns daily for a God-fearing populace. That believer intercedes for this nation, its leaders, and its future. That believer researches Scripture for divine wisdom in how to better serve America."
Joseph Grant Swank, Jr.,
(Columnist for renewamerica.us)
(a pastor at New Hope Church in Windham, Maine)
I have found great peace in knowing He is sovereign and this election hasn’t moved the Great I AM! I will uphold him with my prayers and believe with all my heart, he ain’t as liberal as we think he is. I may be Pollyanna, but I believe he will come to the middle and all of us “right’s” will be pleasantly surprised. The good I find through this referendum landslide election is summed up with several observations: 1. No one is fretting and fighting over “hanging-chads” 2. The nation has made their voices heard loud and clear. 3. Everyone went to work on Wednesday and there were no riots or outbursts of anger on either side. 4. Acorn has gone away, until the next election 5. Every African American can be proud, forget the past and look toward to a new beginning. 6. And most importantly, the world can take note: Democracy has worked again.
"You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away - James 4:14
"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things." Matthew 6:34
"Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. Ecclesiastes 12:8
"encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. " - Acts 14:22
" Some would say I was a lost man in a lost world
You could say I lost my faith in the people on TV
You could say I'd lost my belief in our politicians
They all seemed like game show hosts to me." - Sting
A week from today we will have decided on a new president. It seems that each election is always the most critical election and this one is no different. I feel that the country is on a cusp about to enter a new transition. We are in a culture war and yet when all the curtains have been pulled back on all the different fronts I think it comes down to believers (in Jesus Christ) and those who oppose Him for whatever reason. Yet in Romans 13 Christians are called upon to be model citizens only engaging in civil disobedience under certain conditions.
I have an interest in politics. Just ask Etta and she will tell you I am always watching the cable news shows. She will also tell you that I worry and fret sometimes too much. You see I once seemed to think that God in His providence would show favor on believers who had the gift of governmental service. That is not always so. That God would not allow judicial decisions or legislation that warred against traditional family values, the Church, or His moral code to exist for long. Yet good Christian politicians are defeated and it seems in an ever increasing secular culture that politics, parties, and governments are viable fronts to neutralize or batter the beliefs of Christians. The rise of a godless culture will rob many churches of their salt rendering them no different.
Christians have concerns for protection and provision that may not be compatible with God's promises. I am very much pro-life and I worry that the entire scope of restrictive legislation against abortion will be nullified. I fear that our society will embrace homosexuality and redefine marriage. I despair that one day ministers like some already in Canada and Europe will be cast into prison for preaching God's Word under the pretense of "hate crimes."
But worse I feel that God's presence will be estranged totally from society with only His name whispered in churches. Would God permit this?
Of course He would. Reading the warnings of Jeremiah, Amos, Isaiah, Hosea, and the other prophets one could easily substitute the United States for Israel or Judah. We are guilty of infanticide by abortion. Promiscuity prospers by the profusion of pornography. There is a never ending insatiable appetite to take drugs. Same sex unions are passed over as normal and healthy. The recent economic malaise was fueled by greed not only be corporate CEO's but ourselves. The poor continue to be poor and acts of injustice permeate the sinews of society. Who listens to God or even cares? What matters is me (Mark 8:36)!
Paul says in Romans that sometimes God just turns it over to people and lets them have their fun and frolic with the resulting consequences. Perhaps we are doing that now. God even has used enemies (as in the case of the dispersal of the Jewish states by the Persians and Assyrians) or as in Cyrus the Great who commenced the return of the Jews back to their homeland. What happens is always under the will of God.
Then being subject to physical danger or oppression or sickness or even not attaining financial success we will still praise Him. Our hope consist of knowing that Christ will someday return and set everything right, that spiritual blessings are ours on the other side of paradise, and that we are still better off living from the wisdom of Scripture than those who rely upon themselves. Furthermore our real hope is the resurrection of Christ (1 Peter 3:15).
My advice to those who feel anxiety about the election or the country is as follows. Do not equate the biblical kingdom of God with any human political party or nation. I am very guilty of this but we can not fuse His kingdom with worldly kingdoms (John 18:36/Matt 6:33). Secondly do not elevate a politician to a messianic status nor demonize (Matt 7:15/James 4:12). On our own level do not divide races, sexes, rich and poor, or young and old as well by being dogmatic and vitriolic. We are peacemakers and reconcilers. Confrontations demeans Jesus by baring our hubris.
No matter who wins you must pray for our President and all of Congress, our land, and our troops. Pray for revival. And as such our ultimate security is in the kingdom of God. Peter writes in his two epistles to those believers who were going through hellish times. We might have to face persecution one day. You may not have the strength to fight but do you have the faith to stand? We are strangers in a strange land and our sights must be on our eternal inheritance.
Pray. Then vote! Then no matter what happens pray again. We are called upon to be an illumination and to provide salt to the world. "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not (Lamentations 3:22). Politics is not the best way to change society anyway - do so "by changing the human heart and putting Christ on the throne of our lives."
We do not know the will of God and as such we should not presume that He can not utilize certain politicians. He is always sovereign. I want God to rectify the abortion situation in this country. He might answer my prayers affirmatively but then He might turn us over to our depraved desires allowing it to continue (for judgement).
Pray for revival. Be engaged even politically should he favor us. Vote. Pray. And praise HIM no matter what...
Bob
(this was written a week before the election)
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