"A close election ..."

"The LORD will be king over the whole earth.  On that day there will be one LORD, and His name the only name"  - Zechariah 14:9

It appears that we are going to have another close election in the United States, unless something changes in the next few weeks.  It's not unexpected.  The United States is, in many ways, a divided country, with some wanting more government involvement and others wanting less.  There are arguments on both sides.  Those who know the God "who sets the rulers in place" (Acts 17:26), are called to be good citizens and to exercise the freedom to vote.  We do so, however, knowing that we already have a King who is ruling over all the nations of the world:  Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, our Savior.

Far too many people forget this truth as they get all excited about the coming election in the United States, or see what is going on in other nations around the world.  I have shared before that the word translated, "church," literally means, "called-out ones."  Those who believe in Jesus Christ have been made part of God's people, chosen by Him before the world began (Ephesians 1:4), born again by the Spirit of God (John 1:13), and sent into the world as ambassadors of His kingdom (II Corinthians 5:20).  Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ God is calling out some "from every people, tribe, nation and tongue" to be followers of Jesus Christ.

There is only one true religion in the world today because there is only one true God.  He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  He is the God who has revealed Himself in His Word: ONE God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Jesus explains the "oneness" of the Father and the Son in John 17:21-24 and promises to send His Spirit to make His children "one" in Him.  This is what the true Church is about.  God has determined who will rule over the earth, and it is He, Himself who will rule.  There was no election, no decision made by sinful men who live in open rebellion against Him.  God's vote is the only one that counts.

Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:24-28 about the present reign of Jesus Christ from His throne in heaven and what will happen in the future when He "hands over the kingdom to God the Father."  While our knowledge of all these things is limited to what God reveals to us, He has told us clearly that HE is in control, that He is sovereign, "reigns over" all the rulers and nations of the world.  God already knows the outcome of the election and so He tells His people to vote, based on the information HE gives us in His Word, in order that the outcome will be what He has determined.  We are part of His plan to bring to pass the events that lead to His final conclusion.  We are not to vote based on what WE want, but on what GOD wants.  Some have said they don't like our choices, but as Christians we know that God is not surprised by our choices.  There is no perfect candidate - except Jesus ... and thank God, HE is already ruling at the Father's right hand!

There will come a time, as Zechariah writes, that "The LORD will be king over the whole earth!"  The God who created this world by the power of His Word, who called Abraham and made His covenant of grace with him, and who promised to send the Savior, always keeps His promises.  As He sent Jesus once to die on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin, so Jesus is coming again to gather His elect and then to bring judgment on those who reject His reign.  You have a choice - but it's not who is going to rule!  Your choice is whether you will acknowledge the reign of Jesus Christ and come to the Father through faith in Him to find forgiveness and to receive the promise of eternal life in His kingdom ... OR, whether you will reject Him and face His judgment, only to spend eternity in the realm of spiritual darkness and death.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!" (Acts 16:31)