Who's in charge?

Who’s in charge in the political realm? It’s not the Republicans. Not the Democrats. Not the voters going to the polls this week. God is in control.

It is God’s prerogative to exalt the next president or tear him down. If our elected leader rebels, he will be humbled. If not now, in eternity. If our elected leader promotes evil, he will be judged. If not now, in eternity. God’s desires will win out in the end.

“Do not be deceived,” Paul warned. “God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8, NIV)

So we have nothing to fear politically. Nothing. Not an Obama presidency. Not a McCain victory. Not a Democratic congress. Not a Republican take over.

Fear not! God is in charge! He is working out his salvation. He is doing everything necessary to bring himself the greatest glory. He is building his eternal kingdom. He will not be defeated.

Even in the last days at the end, when things are darkest for those of us who follow Jesus, God will reign supreme. When the whole world, it seems, has run off after Satan, God will still be on his throne. He will overthrow the lawless one with the breath of his mouth. Poof! And the madman is gone. He will destroy the devil’s work once and for all time and the church, God’s bride, will live forever with him.

And you think God is troubled by anything Obama or McCain might do once seated in the Oval Office? Get real! God is in control! Is today. Will be on Wednesday.

So what do we do between now and when the people have spoken?

We pray.

We ask God to work out his will, holding our own idea of what that looks like as loosely as we possibly can. We trust God and plead for mercy and grace and direction and the defeat of evil.

We thank.

We express our gratitude to God for his power and majesty and might. We thank him for the peace that knowing he’s in charge gives us as we face the unknown.

We vote.

The Bible doesn’t address voting directly – people didn’t vote for their leaders at any time during its writing. Does that mean, as some claim, that we shouldn’t vote? I do not believe so. If you have sought God’s direction, I urge you to go to the polls Tuesday.

We wait.

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31, NKJV)

Finally, we keep praying.

No matter who comes out on top in the race for president, when it’s all said and done we get on our knees and pray for our leader.

“I urge,” Paul wrote Timothy, “first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NIV)

That is our calling even when we do not like the man or woman over us. God – the one in charge of all things – has given us this duty.

May we be faithful to obey. May we be free from fear. May we always glorify our God.