As I listen to the news my heart grows heavy. As I listen to fellow Christian’s talk of hope for the future, my heart grows even heavier.
That may sound absurd to you… it does to me too. The problem is that I hear Christians placing their hope and trust in manmade solutions.
Example: 2012 Presidential Election.
No president is going to “fix” our nation. A Godly president can help guide us in the right direction, but to think all of our troubles will go away if the “right” president is elected is crazy.
Remember the Old Testament. God did not want to have kings over his chosen people- he had freed them from the bondage of a king already. God intended that He be their king… that they defer to Him and His laws. But the people were stubborn and God gave them what they desired, knowing man is fallible.
While there were kings in the OT that sought God and treated the people well, there were others who oppressed the people, who worshiped pagan Gods and lead the people astray. It took tragedies and wars to get the people to turn their hearts back to God.
For American’s to think that the “right congress” or the “right president” will turn our nation around is misguided and short sighted. Change has to start with us. Each individual and family must start being the change they want to see in Washington. They must stop compromising on their core beliefs and allowing corruption to go unchecked.
While Godly leaders help a country, its citizens must be Godly as well.
“But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do” James 2:18 NIV
It’s time we stop TALKING about how to live, how to be responsible, how to “fix” America and start LIVING it!
How can we expect Washington to be fiscally responsible and morally sound when many of us are not? Now you may be thinking, “I pay my bills…I’m not like so-and-so”.
I wonder, how much do you spend on non-essentials? What expensive gadgets do you have that you could do without? How much do you spend on entertainment? Are you planning a lavish vacation this summer that you will put on your charge card?
I’m not saying God doesn’t want us to enjoy life. I am saying that we need to learn to cut back. What if you didn’t spend so much eating out…could you afford to make an extra payment on one of your bills? What if you didn’t have that latest gadget…could you donate to a charity, sponsor a child or help a friend in need?
“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Matthew 7:5 NIV
It’s easy to see the 4x4 sticking out of Washington…much harder to see the planks in our own.
It’s time we stop expecting Washington to act differently when we won’t. It will hurt us to cut back, but cut backs are necessary.
Even the best of men are capable of be corruption. Elections are not how God intended us to live. But since it is how we operate, let’s stop pushing blame off and start being the change we want to see.
Let’s stop trusting in manmade solutions and start trusting in the promises of God. I did a post recently on 2 Chronicles 7:14.http://tcavey.blogspot.com/2012/01/ifthen.html It is a wonderful promise from God when his people humble themselves, pray, seek him and turn from their wicked ways. I think humbling ourselves and turning from our sins is a difficult thing to do. Partially because we have gotten comfortable justifying our sins and watering them down, instead of taking God at His word.
Anything above God is an idol: Work, family, possessions, home, entertainment…you name it.
Ask yourself: What sin are you holding onto?
Question: Are you trusting in man to turn our country around or are you seeking God…asking Him what He wants you to do differently?
“You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” Matthew 7:16 NLT
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