By the time you read this we should know who our next president will be, but I’m writing before the returns are in. What I want to say is not dependent on who wins.
The lead article on my USA Today app reads, “As millions vote, thousands monitor polls for problems.” We generally call them “poll watchers.” In the book of Daniel we find there are also some angelic “watchers” who keep an eye on the political affairs of man.
In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream they declare: “This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, and the decision is a command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realms of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes, and sets over it the lowliest of men.”
In Romans 4, Paul confirms that “there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” That assures us that the establishment of civil authority has been ordained by God, and I believe we are safe to say that God is ultimately in control of our political processes. I do not believe, however, that it necessarily assures us that whoever wins is His choice.
We learn in Romans 1 that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth”, and that God’s wrath is often revealed by simply allowing us to have our own way. The things Paul points to that result from God giving us over to what we want can be readily seen in our society today, so I don’t believe we can blame God for the mess we are in.
Still, when writing to Timothy, Paul urged that prayers be made for “all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” So we pray for our president, whoever he or she might be, but we also realize that according to Philippians 3:20, “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” God Bless, Rick
Chatham Christian Church 