The US presidential election has had more drama, more anger,
more division, and more cruelty than I, and so many Americans, ever thought possible. Who could have imagined these two candidates
would emerge from a pool of over fifteen candidates, who both sides agree are
not qualified for the responsibilities of President. These two candidates beat long-time senators,
representatives, and governors, some with a fairly decent record, and have left
us all in a huge predicament: which of these two potential leaders do I want to
support?
Living on the other side of the world, I have only gotten to
observe this election from news articles, biased Facebook posts, and occasional
conversations with the people around me.
I clearly am not an expert on the candidates’ positions, I’ve never
heard them speak in person, and I’ve only rarely heard them on TV. But I want to bring you a perspective a bit
different than what you might be used to hearing.
Through the last year or more, we’ve spent so much time
worrying about the people that we are choosing, while we spend such little time
thinking about the One who allowed this situation to happen. It’s so easy for us to say, “How could He not
find any better people to lead our country?”
But instead, let’s take a look at a few commands that He says in the
Holy Book that could give us an eternal perspective on the upcoming week.
1. All of us are flawed people. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen
short of the glory of (Him),” and that means you, me, Donald Trump, Hillary
Clinton, and every other person in the world.
In His eyes we are all sinners, regardless of the wrong that we have
committed. In earthly terms, some sins
are larger than others, but in His eyes, all sins are the same. As we strive to bring His kingdom to earth,
we need to have this same attitude as we observe and critique the lives of
others.
2. The laws of Heaven
will always be more important than the laws of man. Recently, I’ve been reading through Mark, and
last night I came to Mark 7, where JC calls out the Pharisees for following the
laws of the people, not the laws of Heaven.
The Pharisees are so focused on the disciples not ceremonially washing
their hands before eating that Jesus calls them hypocrites, by saying “You have
let go of the commands of (Him) and are holding onto human traditions (Mark 7:8).” Throughout all four gospels, JC criticizes
the teachers of the law for placing more importance on human laws. Regardless of which leader we have leading
our country, the laws of the Kingdom should always be our first aim, while the
laws of the people should be second.
3. Whoever wins the election, his or her authority has been
established by Heaven. Paul states this
in Romans 13:1: “Everyone should be subject to the governing authorities, for
there is no authority except that which (He) has established. The authorities that exist have been
established by (Him).” Through this
verse, I believe that He is working something through this election. His plan was for these two leading people to
be the two candidates and for us to have to support one of them in this
election.
So as you focus on your final decisions of who to vote for,
I hope that you remember these few thoughts.
Even in bleak situations, such as this one, He has a plan, and
everything will work out for “the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28).”
Instead of reading the last news articles leading up to this
election, I’m going to spend extra time in prayer, thanking God that part of
His plan will be fulfilled through this election. I know that thankfulness has not been the
common state of our hearts (mine included) through this election season, but
even when we don’t understand why, He always does, and for that, we should to
be thankful.
Happy Election Week from across the world.
I pray you feel His peace through this potentially
stressful, dangerous, decisive time.
Luke Forshey
November 5, 2016
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