THE WINDS OF CHANGE

The winds of change are blowing. In a few days, we will witness the beginning of change of leadership in our country. Unlike many nations around the world, the citizens will determine the outcome—no dictatorships. Power will be transferred without bloodshed—no military coup d’états. As we approach the Thanksgiving season, we can be grateful for America—with all her flaws—that we still have the freedoms we enjoy.

Yet, those freedoms can be lost. We can be thankful for the brave men and women of our military who sacrifice so much—even their very lives—to preserve these liberties we cherish. We appreciate those blood-bought privileges too much to surrender them.

Or will we?

Many Americans will refuse to participate in the political process. Disenfranchised, disgruntled, disillusioned—all this and more—are reasons (excuses) presented by citizens for dropping out of involvement. No one would argue that real change is hard to come by. Our government features a monstrous, entrenched bureaucracy that is slow to affect. The winds of change required to turn that around would need to be hurricane force! Still, with the help of God, they could be generated by “we the people.”

One of the saddest things is when Christians divorce their faith from their politics. Some will not even register and cast a ballot. When that happens, things still change—for the worse. If God’s people are not influencing the nation by letting their light shine, then darkness will only deepen. Should we fail to be the salt of society, the rottenness will only spread. That is beyond sad—it is sinful! For that is what Christ has demanded we do (Matthew 5:13-16). “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

How can we consider the legal execution of infants inside the “gas chamber” of their mother’s womb through abortion and not be involved in the political process that has given us this holocaust? How can we sit by while fundamental morality is undermined by a government that is giving us same sex marriage? Just days ago, a group of first-grade school children were taken on a “field trip” in San Francisco to “celebrate” the wedding of their teacher and her lesbian lover. How dare we avoid bringing biblical values to bear in our decision-making? Some would protest, “But those are decisions made by judges!” Who appoints those judges? Who holds them accountable? That is the duty of our elected officials. So, who then is responsible for them? Look in a mirror.

If we continue on our current course as a country, the winds of change will blow—and God will generate them. Here will be the results, predicted in Revelation 6:13-17:

13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

I read a bumper sticker the other day, “God is not a Republican.” Of course not—and neither is He a Democrat! Recall how Joshua came to the siege of Jericho with the armies of Israel when a Man with drawn sword appeared. General Joshua’s question was, “Are you for us or against us?” That Man was the Lord, and His answer was basically, “I didn’t come to take sides; I came to take over.” You say Jesus is Lord. That means He is Lord of the polling place, also. Our responsibility isn’t to try to convince God to join our party, but for us to be obedient to Him. Abraham Lincoln said it this way, “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”

Be informed. Be praying. Be involved. I’m not going to tell you how to cast your vote. You have the freedom to vote for whom you wish. Just remember that we will all give an account to God for all our actions one day.

The winds of change are blowing. Let us set our sails to head in the right direction.