Who Will You Serve?...Thoughts on the election

"...Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

It's hard to gather my thoughts on this topic. It's so widespread and can get really deep really quick. I don't intend to go deep just to share my thoughts on what's going on inside my head.

Joey and I have always been under the conviction that we as a family are to vote our consciences, not just vote for who would make the better candidate. Due to the nature of this election, we have decided to vote for the better candidate, although he wouldn't have been our first option. He is not as conservative as we would like him to be, but he is better than the alternative...which scares us a bit if he did make it into office. The man we wanted is no longer running, although he now has his own show on Fox News if that tells you anything!!!

The issues now (as opposed to 50 years ago) are grave, unreal, and pressing! Who would have thought that we would be discussing same sex marriage? My great grandparents would roll over in their grave if they knew the issues at hand. They deserve our earnest prayer and intercession. A lot is at stake in this election. But even amidst the chaos, the fear, the unknown, and apparent insecurity in American's hearts, I am reminded of the scripture in Romans 13:1 which says, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." He is sovereign and I can rest secure in Him because He is control and Proverbs 21:1 says, "The king's heart is in hands of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever he wishes." God is the final authority and no plan of His will be thwarted. Nothing happens that it doesn't go by him first. I am glad the Lord is for us for who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) Therefore, we shouldn't fear, but we need to have wisdom and to take action to do our part.

Bro. Mike on Sunday preached a very powerful, spirit led and spirit filled sermon entitled, "A Christian Voters Guide." The main Scripture was in Proverbs 29 verse 2 which says, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, the people groan." He said that Christians have a responsibility to vote along with four other responsibilities we have to the government:

1. To obey the governing authorities (Romans 13:1)

2. To pay the government taxes and respect (Romans 13:6-7)

3. We must pray for government leaders (1 Tim. 2: 1-2), and

4. We must try to point our government in a Godly direction (Matthew 5: 13-16).

Along with those points he also pointed out principles to apply when you are voting:

1. As a believer you can not be led by tradition alone (Mark 7:9)

2. As a believer you can not be led by the economy alone (Matthew 6:24)

3. As a believer you must consider the candidate's character (Proverbs 29:2)

4. As a believer you must look closely at the moral issues involved (Proverbs 14:34)

The tradition point I know gets a lot of people especially ones in the older generation who I have personally heard say that because their grandaddy was a democrat or a republican that's how they are voting. Most in that generation vote their pocketbooks because as they say those Democrats are the ones that got us out of the depression and the Republicans will put back into one. They do not consider the moral issues at hand. What is God's Word most concerned about? Yes, He does care about the economy, but not over issues of life and marriage. How in the world could a believer vote for a person who opposes life and the union between one man and one women? Those are the issues of God' s heart not whether the stock markets are up and down. The Master is more concerned about the unborn, the aged, the infirmed, and the disabled more than He is about your 401K. Who will be the voice for the helpless? I'm not saying it's not important, but it's not the most important issue when considering a candidate. It never should be about the economy first. That's God's story and He's sticking to it.

As I was praying this morning for our country and the election, the Lord brought to my mind the story of Abraham interceding on behalf of the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah.

"And the Lord said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know...and Abraham came near and said, Would you destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it? Shall not the judge of all the earth do right? So the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. Then Abraham answered and said, "Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord... Suppose then should be ten found there? And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten." Genesis 18:20,21,23,24,26-27,32 (emphasis mine)

As believers we need to be interceding on behalf of this nation for God to pour out His mercy because if He chooses to give us all what we deserve then....?? Abraham took a risk by asking the Lord to spare Sodom and Gomorrah because of the few righteous that were left. Sodom and Gomorrah looks like heaven compared to America. I know there are Christians on their knees praying, fasting, and pleading with the Lord to show us mercy on behalf of the believers here. God, the judge will ALWAYS do right and I know He hears the prayers of His people. God have mercy on us sinners!!

Maybe you don't' know what the candidates stand for and what the issues in this election are...if your one of the million who don't then go here so you can be informed when it comes time to vote. They will send you voting guides so you can hand them out at church or to friends and family. Early voting started yesterday. Please spend time in prayer and then obey what God shows you. The time is critical and it's time Christians stand up and fight the good fight of faith. No longer can we afford to be idle and apathetic. Lives are at stake. I realize no president can fix America's problems...only the Lord can do that, but your vote does make a difference. America is worth it and our Lord is worth it. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also. (Matt. 6:21)

There's much more I could say, but time doesn't permit. Just remember:

Nothing is politically right that is morally wrong!!

GO VOTE!