Government is important. Indeed, God created it for a purpose. Politics are important, but not the end-all-be-all some, particularly the US media, have made it today.
Trump or Biden, probably Biden, will be president, but at this writing we’re not yet certain. Either way, much that matters remains the same.
1-God is sovereign. Got that? No matter who wins, “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning” (Daniel 2:21). God is on the throne, so if it was His will for Donald Trump to win in 2016, then whoever ultimately wins in 2020 is also God’s will.
2-Character matters. What we are is more important than who we are, meaning the measure of a person is his/her morality or rectitude, not gender, race or ethnicity, nationality, i.e. not “identity” or demography. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
3-Society is built upon families. Without family, people lose connectedness, responsibility and accountability, and a host of other blessings needed for human flourishing. “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Government, schools, and other agencies are not suitable surrogates for a family built upon love and respect.
4-The Church is responsible for culture and society. Blaming politics for what’s gone wrong or looking to politics to make things right is a dead-end street because leaders always fail. “For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17). It’s God’s people, the Church, who He charges with living out His will and Word and proclaiming the Lordship of Christ in all of life.
5-Our hope lies in our Savior. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. “He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.
No political change alters these realities nor ever will. No regime or political program or political leader offers a greater positive impact than what the Lord accomplishes through His people.
The chaos America has experienced in the year 2020–the pandemic, social unrest, a rancorous election–are pretty much standard fare in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Here the Church has learned to trust God, to live out the faith with amazing resilience, and to speak truth in love into oft-times repressive cultures. Through it all, Christians in the Middle East and North Africa look to the Lord, not their governments, for protection, solace, and hope.
It may feel as if what has happened in year 2020 is unprecedented. Maybe. Or is it unprecedented but prophesied?
God said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:6-7, 10-13).
No one knows if indeed these are the “Last Days” as described in Scripture. And no one knows when the Lord will return, only that He promised to return.
As this old hymn stated so well:
“My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in ev’ry high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.”
Dr. Rex Rogers
President, SAT-7 USA
