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ONLY ONE SITS ON THE THRONE
Well, it's Election Day (as if you didn't already know that!). There is going to be all sorts of shouting and chatter and bloviating (I love that word!) over the next several days. And I know that some of you are at least a little anxious, worried, concerned, maybe even frightened by what the days ahead will bring–no matter who wins. So before you head into this day, and no matter how much bloviating you have to put up with on TV or radio or social media or perhaps even from friends, family and coworkers, I want to share some thoughts with you that I hope will reinforce your capacity to weather the storm.
If you're a regular Waybread reader, you know that I end every piece with the following:
"Be encouraged, friend, for God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, who spoke all worlds into being, is both with you and for you."
I want to start with these words today because I think they contain some crucial truths that will be important for each of us to keep in mind in the days ahead. I'm very intentional about that line. I've considered every word. And let me acknowledge right from the beginning that on today of all days I am not at a loss for hope. Our Christian hope is strong and secure–unshakeable, constant, and eternal. And that is because our hope does not reside in a political party or a presidential candidate, but in a Person, Jesus. And Jesus, though He is not on the ballot (interestingly, if He were, I think we'd be in for a much more turbulent season!), is not unnerved or anxious or fearful. He knows all things, sees all things, reigns over all things–He is truly sovereign. He rules. He governs. However messy and chaotic the details get in our little corner of the globe, He is not daunted or intimidated. Even while you read these very words, He does not sit on the throne wringing His hands. Quite the opposite, in fact. Pastor Phil and I were talking one day last week, and he brought up Psalm 2 (go read it sometime soon–it may just change your perception of things a bit). Consider this:
Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs…. (Ps. 2:1-3)
I love that, and I hope it brings a measure of lightness to your heart knowing that not only is God not daunted by our petty political goings-on, He laughs in the face of it all! We should learn to do the same, however long it takes.
It's also encouraging that the last verse of Psalm 2 says, "Blessed are all who take refuge in Him." Did you hear that? There is no need to take refuge unless you're under assault, and let's face it, it feels like we're under assault 24/7, doesn't it? It doesn't matter if you're Republican, Democrat, or something else–"If those other guys get their way, we're done for!" seems to surround us on every side. Don't buy it for a minute, friends! We live in an age of exaggeration and conspiracy-mongering, but we also live under the lordship of our sovereign, merciful, gracious, all-knowing, all-seeing God.
So know this: No matter who wins, half of America will believe we're hopelessly lost, and half of America will believe we've been saved from disaster. Both are wrong. Jesus sits supremely and confidently on the throne … laughing! Yet at the same time, Jesus has an Enemy. But that Enemy was defeated at the Cross. And because of Jesus' victory over death at the Resurrection, Jesus' Enemy no longer has anything to hold over His head–his one great weapon, death, has once and for all been vanquished.
But … that Enemy is determined, and if he can't assail Jesus any longer, he can attack intimidate those whom Jesus loves–us. When we take refuge at the foot of Jesus' throne, we are blessed and safe from all harm. So then, safe in the Presence of Jesus, we "let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts" (Col. 3:15)–not fear, not anger, not anxiety, but the very peace of Christ. And because Christ is always and forever at peace, we get to share in that peace, that shalom, that entire well-being of the soul that can only be found in His Presence.
Remember: Jesus says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.... Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
In the days ahead, life may indeed get a little bumpier and louder and cruder (if that's even possible). Voices will certainly be raised, relationships will be strained, and hearts will be wrung, but Jesus sits on the throne.
So let me come back to my usual closing lines. Don't gloss too quickly over the words "Be encouraged." The word encourage means to "make strong, to hearten." These are days in which the people of God are called to courage, to strength, even to strength of heart! We must stand fast and hold fast to our faith in Jesus and to our eternal, unchanging hope that "all is well, and all is well, and all manner of things shall be well" (Julian of Norwich).
God in His grace and wisdom made all things and rules all things. He has spoken all worlds into being. And to top it all off, this very God, the Author of all creation is, really and truly, with you and for you! So take heart, friends!
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