This Election Day was different. It passed like any other day for me. I voted early in the day as I have in every Presidential election since I was eighteen. As one gentleman and I agreed as I exited the polling site, voting is both a privilege and a responsibility of citizenship. I thanked each person who worked to ensure I had the opportunity to exercise my civic duty and I went about my day with a sense of peace I do not see reflected in the world at large. Why? I prayed often, meditated on Scripture daily, and skirted political banter in person and online entirely. On three occasions today alone, I’ve shared my deep seated conviction that regardless of the election results, God is Sovereign. I represent Him, an ambassador for His eternal kingdom today and I will, Lord willing, continue to live to represent Him tomorrow.
There’s no arguing we live in difficult times, but this did not come about overnight, over the last four years, or even four decades. As a nation and a people inhabiting a planet, we are on a long since slippery slope of disobedience and denial. It’s easy for us to read Biblical accounts of the cyclical fall of ancient Israel and feel superior, but we have the whole canon of scripture at our fingertips. If they had no excuse for turning their backs on God, we have even less. Recognizing that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is still sovereign over the affairs of man today should give us perspective, comfort, and hope, even in the midst of crisis.
The thirty-third chapter of Jeremiah finds the weeping prophet imprisoned in the guardhouse of the palace in Jerusalem, very much like a captain doomed to go down with his ship. While Judah gloated over Israel’s captivity, claiming superiority and God’s favor, Jeremiah continued to warn of coming destruction. You may think you’re safe but God’s hand is against you. You might have surrounded yourselves with prophets who say what your itching ears want to hear but God will prove them wrong in time.
Locking up Jeremiah may have felt like an insurance policy of sorts. Even if what this lunatic says is true, God won’t allow the palace to be destroyed while he’s inside. They were dead wrong and Jeremiah told them so, but God didn’t stop there. God is just. He never punished without excessive warning. He is also good, promising salvation and restoration to Israel and to the fallen world through the line of David in the person of Jesus, the Christ, Son of the living God.
“For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:
You have torn down the houses of this city and even the king’s palace to get materials to strengthen the walls against the siege ramps and swords of the enemy.
You expect to fight the Babylonians, but the men of this city are already as good as dead, for I have determined to destroy them in my terrible anger.
I have abandoned them because of all their wickedness.
Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace.
I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellion.
Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth!
The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them.”
Jeremiah 33:4-6, 8-9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.33.4-9.NLT
…the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord.
They will sing, ‘Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for the Lord is good. His faithful love endures forever!’”
Jeremiah 33:11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.33.11.NLT
But as I once heard, you can’t reason with unreasonable people. Sometimes we all have to learn the hard way.
“The destruction of the city is imminent, the exile of the people all but inevitable—and God wants both Jeremiah and the people to look beyond the impending disasters and contemplate his promises that await sure fulfillment.
That is a substantial part of what it means to walk by faith.”
Read the Bible: Judges 19, Acts 23, Jeremiah 33, Psalms 3–4
“Don’t be flip with the sacred.
Banter and silliness give no honor to God.
Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans.
In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege.”
Matthew 7:6 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/mat.7.6.MSG
Eugene Peterson’s Message translation of Jesus’s words from His sermon on the Mount sound as if they were written for our day. It’s certainly much easier for our generation to grasp than the original language, which would have been understood by Jesus’s immediate audience.
“Who would hang earrings on a dog’s ear or throw pearls in front of wild pigs?
They’ll only trample them under their feet and then turn around and tear you to pieces!”
Want peace beyond comprehension? Citizens of an eternal kingdom, join together today and pray. Seek God’s face.
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.
Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.
He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.
This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.”
1 Timothy 2:1-2, 4-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1ti.2.1-6.NLT
“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile.”
[“For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.”
Hebrews 13:14-16 NLT]
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.13.14-16.NLT
“Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
Jeremiah 29:7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.29.7.NLT
Remember well your ultimate reality in Christ and let your life here and now be a rehearsal for all that is to come.
“After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.
They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.
And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings.
And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God.
They sang, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.””
Revelation 7:9-12 NLT
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