With the Presidential Election coming up in just a few days, I think I would be negligent if I didn’t write a few words on the subject. First, I think it’s easy to take all of the gifts we as American citizens enjoy for granted. One of those benefits is the chance to vote. It’s amazing when you stop and think about it: we get to choose the leaders in the highest offices of this land. And yet many still don’t exercise their civic duty and cast their vote. I spent some time looking at quotes on the importance of voting. Kim Wehle puts it so well:
“Voting is vitally important, even if an individual vote doesn’t sway a particular election one way or another. It is the only way that “We the people” self-govern. The ability to self-govern is both a privilege and a gift – one that we honor by showing up at the ballot booth…It’s sometimes hard for Americans to fathom that not everyone on the planet enjoys the privilege of self-government.” (Source: https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/19242142.Kim_Wehle)In Mark 12, some slick religious leaders tried to trap
Jesus with a loaded question. They asked
if it was right to pay taxes. Jesus
answered this by saying, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to
God the things that are God’s” (verse 17).
I could write a whole blog on this interesting exchange in Mark’s Gospel,
but I’ll give my abridged version. I think
it was Adrian Rogers who said that the “render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar’s” clause is not just to pay taxes, but also as Americans, this includes
casting a vote.
However, let’s not miss that second half of Jesus’ words;
He said, “and [render] to God the things that are God’s.” As a Christian, I am to give my worship,
trust, dreams, and ultimately my entire life to God. So, as the Presidential Election looms
closer, I hope you will vote. I hope you
will vote your conscience and values. We
should never take this for granted. But
regardless of the outcome, remember there is a glorious God who is sitting on
His throne, in sovereign control, no matter what. Jesus said in Matthew 6, “But seek first the
Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Let me conclude with this story. The other day, while I was driving, I missed
my street. I decided to turn into a
large venue with a huge parking lot, so I could turn around and get back on the right path. Somehow I didn’t realize that it was closed
for renovations (or perhaps because of covid-19, I’m still not sure). I must have driven around that lot a dozen
times. Every time I came to a place in
that parking lot typically designated to exit, it was either gated, or closed
off with orange cones. Finally, I
realized that there was only one way out: the solitary entryway that I had
initially turned into.
In a similar way, we all seem to drive around (if you
will) seeking hope and salvation in life.
We think perhaps they are found in the avenue of marriage, career, or
politics. But that’s not the case. All of these things have their place, but
they will never provide lasting hope and everlasting satisfaction. (And by the
way, it’s not found in success for the local NFL football team, either. The Denver Broncos are off to another slow
start this year. They are 2-4, and
coming off another lopsided defeat; 43-16 to the Kansas City Chiefs.) Where are hope, salvation, and peace found? In a Person: Jesus
Christ. The old hymn says it so well:
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…all other
ground is sinking sand.”
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