Just before the last presidential election, I had to scramble to renew my registration in order to vote in the Biden-Trump showdown. We move so often I almost always have to do that. It’s a chore that gets lumped in with setting up utilities and finding local services like medical care and hair cutting. But I prioritize it because I recognize voting as a hard-won privilege that allows my voice to be heard on behalf of my country—or at least I used to.
Over the course of my adult life, I’ve watched with foreboding as the United States has systematically devolved into conditions we’ve traditionally associated with third world countries—inaccessible medical care, outlandish food costs, weakened education, and political corruption. And, what used to be news has passed right through the stage of entertainment into full blown propaganda. Didn’t we learn that word in social studies in reference to China and Russia? What has happened? Can we even really know what’s going on? I don’t think so, and that’s exactly why I went to great lengths to cast my vote in our last election for the one who can.
After John and I found our way to the small wooden church at the crossroads of wheat fields in small-town Texas where voting was underway, I produced my driver’s license, took my place in front of the voting machine, and typed in “Jesus Christ” for president. I know that may sound troublesome and that it’s more culturally acceptable to keep who I voted for to myself, but I want to talk about it. And I did, to several of my friends at the time. Here are some of the comments I got: “Are you serious?”; “Is that legal?”; and “You wasted your vote.” Did I mention that all of these comments came from Christian friends? Yes, I’m serious; yes, it’s perfectly legal; and did you hear yourself? If not, try saying that last one out loud. “When you cast your vote for Jesus, you wasted it.” Ouch! You might want to take that back.
When Israel asked for a king, God said to Samuel, “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” Then He went on to warn them about the hardships they would face because of their insistence on doing things the world’s way, including verse 9 of I Samuel 8, “When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day.” Yikes! I’ve been doing a lot of crying out lately, and I don’t want the Lord to not hear me. I need Him to hear me. I can’t navigate these crazy times, and neither can Trump or Biden, by the way. I can honestly pray, “Lord, I voted for You. I don’t agree with what they’re doing. I want YOU to be my king.”
I’m not suggesting that there is anything inherently evil about having governments and rulers in place. In fact, Romans 13 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” But if you keep reading it also says “Rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.” Really? That line of reasoning only seems to hold up when the leaders are fair-minded and decent. But what about now? What do we do when the people in charge seem bent on doing everything but turning to God?
I don’t know about you, but my life is not going as I expected, and most of it is completely out of my control. I’m not complaining though. Quite the contrary. I’m thankful that God keeps reminding me that He’s the one in charge. It keeps me close to Him, waiting for guidance. If you can relate, take heart. Daniel lived in a wicked place among vile people, but he remained faithful to God, and so can we. We don’t have to and should never bow down to the evils of our culture. The ultimate governing authority should always be Jesus Christ. He doesn’t need a political party or an office in the White House to put him in leadership in your life. He just needs your vote. Why not make it official and write Him in? Maybe if enough of us do that in the next election He’ll begin to rule this country again. II Chronicles 7:14 promises, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
“…as for me and my household, we will serve [and vote for] the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
