"Trust the Lord; He made everything for its own purpose."
~ Proverbs 16:4
Jacob hadn’t missed voting in a
presidential election since 1976. He
voted in Reagan’s unseating of incumbent Jimmy Carter who, it turned out later,
had "found" Carter’s debate prep notes and obliterated Carter on live
TV. He’d voted in the controversial 2000
Bush/Gore election that was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court. And he even voted in the 2008 campaign that some
pundits believe was the most vicious in U.S. history.
Mudslinging is certainly not a new approach in politics. Opposing candidates have been tearing each
other down since Washington’s selection in 1789. But to call what he’d seen from both sides a
“circus” was an insult to the Ringling Brothers.
As the 2016 election nears, Jacob found himself at a
crossroad for choosing the “lesser of two
evils.”
The left offers Hillary Clinton - the Teflon candidate. She’s weathered more scandals and been let
off the hook for more misdeeds than probably any candidate in our nation’s
history.
Donald Trump is to the right at this crossroad - an
unrepentant bully who demeans women, immigrants and veterans.
We’ve already failed this cycle; either candidate will punish
this nation. So, Jacob considered
“sitting this one out” incorrectly citing Spurgeon’s logic: “Of two sins . . . choose neither.”
That was until his Pastor may several excellent points in
last Sunday’s sermon.
First: We’re always faced with the real challenge of voting among
two or three ‘imperfect’ people. Given the
depths to which American culture has sunk, it’s too much to ask for a perfect
presidential candidate. And Jesus is not
on the ballot.
Second: All throughout the Old Testament, God allowed for wicked
leaders to be placed in authority over it’s people. Quite often, it was to humble them and bring
them back to Him.
Third: At a crossroads, you don’t have to take the left or the
right. Sometimes, you just go straight
ahead. There comes a time to stay
the course and not be distracted or led astray by doubt, fear, or party
loyalty.
Fourth: Stay true to your
faith, looking neither to the left or the right. Our answers are not there. Vote your values, whether those are popular
or even successful in this election.
And Finally: Whatever happens, trust God. He doesn’t measure us by who wins or loses,
but by our faithfulness to vote our values without compromise. To vote is to honor Him and let Him do the
impossible.
So, Jacob has resigned himself to the notion that we will
end up with one of the two evils the public has clamored for. But, he’ll be faithful to what God has called
him to do and leave the results in His hands, through the good days ahead and
the bad alike.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of
electing our leaders. Give us wisdom and discernment, that through the casting
of our votes, Your Kingdom may come closer and Your Will be done here on
earth. Amen
