Over the past several months our country has been concerned primarily with one pressing question: “Who is going to lead us into the next four years?” As citizens we had an important choice to make knowing that the consequences for choosing wrong could be disastrous. The thing that makes a decision like this hard is that by saying yes to one option you have to put to death a thousand others. A decision is the choice to pick one direction among many and trust that it is the best one. Decisions are a hard but necessary part of life. I’m proud of the fact that on Tuesday after all the issues were debated and the candidates were scrutinized we finally came to a decision about who we will follow as a country. Aren’t you thankful that we still live in a country that has the freedom to choose!
The same principle is true in our spiritual journey. We all have an important decision to make and the eternal consequences for choosing wrong are horrific. There are many candidates vying for our vote but ultimately we will be held accountable for which one we chose to follow. As a Christ follower we are casting our vote of confidence to Jesus Christ. “Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true”, therefore a Christian is one who believes God’s testimony about Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. By becoming His disciple we have made the choice to die to all the other candidates and follow Him as our Lord and Savior. We follow Him because we believe that He is who He claims to be whole heartedly.
Therefore, as we move forward as citizens of the United States in the uncertain times we are in; let’s not forget that as Christians our ultimate leader is Christ. After all, don’t we follow the one who has “all authority in heaven and earth” and who “sits at the right hand of the throne of God”? Therefore let’s “fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith” and confidently “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” because “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Don’t be so easily rattled by circumstances but tell yourself that it is “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.”
As we wait on Him let’s obey His commands and teach others to do the same. Let’s go make disciples. Let’s ask the people in our lives the question “Who is going to lead you into eternity?” Let’s tell them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s encourage them to look at the issues and scrutinize the claims of those who they may be following already. Let’s campaign for Jesus and urge them to cast their vote for Him because He is the only way to find forgiveness and reconciliation with God. He alone can give them the eternal life they long for. Let’s tell them before the trumpet sounds signaling that the polls are closed and it’s too late.
Let’s also show the world what it looks like to love God and love others, to trust in God’s sovereignty, to pray for our leaders, to submit to God instituted authorities and, as much as it depends on us, to live at peace with all men as Christ taught us to do. Let’s not miss the great opportunity we have as Christians to truly be salt and light to our nation in the days ahead. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Shannon Compton
Scriptures: John 3:33, Matthew 28:18, Hebrews 12:2, Philippians 3:14,20, Psalm 62:1-2, 1st Timothy 2:1, Romans 13:1, Romans 12:18 & Ephesians 3:20-21
