Jesus, The Comforting Candidate
By: Zach Collins
Election Day is only a few days away and we find ourselves surrounded by heated and divisive political rhetoric which is, somehow, meant to empower and embolden voters to head to the polls. Each television channel airs different political ads, of opposing candidates on the ballot, where each politician accuses the other of the same heinous and thoughtless offenses. Our mailboxes are full of election mail that seek to percolate the political rhetoric into our homes and hearts. Every day, it seems as if the realm of politics connects less and less to the problems that constituents must combat, especially to those challenges of a spiritual nature.
In this atmosphere, I need to be reminded of a greater hope than any politician or platform could offer in this temporal existence. For a moment, I want to share with you the words of God that help me find peace amid political pandemonium. After all, He is much more qualified to speak on this subject than myself.
1. “Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket and are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.” (Isaiah 40:15)
2. “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.” (Romans 13:1)
3. “But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
4. “Therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:13-17)
5. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19)
6. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
7. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
8. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1)
In a political climate where fear is used as the primary tool to motivate, our greatest comfort is not found in some political platform built upon unfulfilled promises. It is found resting in the One who has kept every promise (c.f., Hebrews 10:23). Let us cleave to this comfort, found in the words of God, which reveal to us that the nations are still “as a drop in a bucket” to Him and He is in control, no matter the outcome of any earthly political contest. He still sits on His throne in Heaven, and the throne of my heart, as the candidate who has never lost.