God is Still in Control

 

 Introduction

Every four years, just like the Olympics and Leap-a-year, we have a presidential election to elect the individual who will run the country of the United States next. Obviously, everyone wants their candidate to win as opposed to the other. Arguments ensue; including name calling, threats, and; most recently, riots.

While the president changes from time to time, there is one thing that is, and always has been, unchanging; God is still in control of the planet and Jesus, His Son, is still sitting on His Throne! As the Hebrew writer pens, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

 

#NotMyPresident

If you will allow me to get on my political soapbox for a just a moment, I’d like to take you back to January, 2017 and the inauguration of the 45^th President of the United States. His nomination was met with sniggers, his campaign was considered a joke, and, when was elected, he was greeted by extreme hatred. The phrase, “Not My President” was seen and uttered all over the country.

Never in the 230+ year history of having presidents have people suddenly denied acknowledging the leader of the United States. The irony is that these people continue to live here, work here, and draw a paycheck, but they still refuse to acknowledge him as The President.

If Jesus had lived today, I’m sure the phrase #NotMySavior would be highly publicized and vocally shouted in every state. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to elevate our current president to the status of messiah; though some think he’s doing that on his own. What I’m saying is people rejected Jesus when he walked the earth.

 

He’s Not MY Savior

One good example of this is found in Mark 5:1-17; the story of the man possessed with many demons (Legion vs. 9). When Jesus removed the spirits, He sent them into a herd of swine, which ran straight into sea and drowned (vs. 12-13). When the people of the local town heard of this, they came out to witness what happened and here’s their reaction in verse 17, Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And it wasn’t just the owner of the swine who asked him to depart. In Lk. 8:37, here’s what we see, Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.

Here was the Son of God at their doorstep offering healing, teaching, miracles, and other signs of encouragement, but the people of the area were more concerned out their material goods and how much money those swine would have profited them. There are other examples, of course, but this one should suffice to making this argument.

 

Looking at the Bigger Picture

When a new president is elected and inaugurated into office; whether you like him or not, you should still respect the office of the land. You don’t have to like him, or his policies, but you should respect the office.

The apostle Paul learned this the hard way when he spoke “out of turn” in Acts 23:1-2, Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Paul breathed a threat in verse 3, but when he learned the identity of the High Priest (verse 4), he humbly apologized, Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'" (Acts 23:5). The Old Law reference he made was Ex. 22:28.

We can learn a valuable lesson from this; we need to respect the office of the leader of our own country; regardless of where we live. This will be part of our own judgment in the Last Day (2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 4:13).

 

Conclusion

Whether the candidate you vote for gets elected or not, remember God and Jesus are still the ones ruling over all. Your behavior, thoughts, and actions are always taken into consideration when you come before the throne of judgment.