A HYMN FOR ELECTION DAY…

My hope is built on nothing lessThan Jesus’ blood and righteousnessI dare not trust the sweetest frameBut wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ the solid rock I standAll other ground is sinking sandAll other ground is sinking sand(Edward Mote, 1837)

OBSERVATION: Today is November 8, 2022 – Election Day in the United States of America. For months politicians have been campaigning. The television and radio airwaves have been filled with political ads. There have been accusations, scandals, and the typical mud-slinging. It has been billed as the election of our lifetime, the future of our Democracy, the last hope for America as we know it.

I believe that every Christ follower should be involved in the community, state, and nation in which they live. This includes paying taxes, obeying the laws of the land, and praying for our elected officials. It is incongruent to call oneself a Christian and ignore the world around us. Jesus said that we are to render unto Ceasar the things that are Ceasar’s and to God the things that are God’s. We have a dual responsibility in this world.

With regard to the world, we must stand up for righteousness. Micah proclaims the Word of the Lord when he writes,

• “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬

In these words, we find this dual responsibility once again. To do justly is much more than merely trying to live one’s life according to the will of God. It also means standing up for the poor, the disenfranchised, and those who cannot speak for themselves. It is to stand up for the principle of life for all – for the unborn, the living, and the elderly. It is to stand up for children who are vulnerable and easily misled. It is to support the God-ordained institution of marriage and family. And, how do we do this?

WE VOTE!

We vote for candidates who most closely align with our Biblical values. We vote for platforms that support life, and religious freedom, and uphold principles of justice for fall. We vote for the opportunity of all men and women to engage in life and reach their God-given potential.

Now, no candidate is perfect. We are all broken men, saved by grace through faith, and in need of continual cleansing and forgiveness. If our criteria were to find perfect candidates we would never vote for anyone. We are not looking for a perfect candidate because we are not perfect. Our hope is not placed in a candidate. It is placed in Christ alone. And, so we come to our hymn for election day.

My hope is built on nothing lessThan Jesus’ blood and righteousnessI dare not trust the sweetest frameBut wholly lean on Jesus’ name

We never place our hope on candidates (“the sweetest frame”; frame here refers to the strength of a person). We place our hope in Jesus’ Name! Jesus alone is the hope of the world. We are not cleansed by our good deeds, our political party, or the way we cast our votes. We are cleansed solely by the blood of Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can turn the heart of the vilest sinner into a child of God. And, only Jesus can truly save our land!

And, so, as we cast our votes as believers, as we vote for principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we do so in faith, knowing that we do not live by bread alone (worldly structures), we live by the living and abiding Word of God. With this understanding, as we watch the results of today’s election, our hearts will be lifted in praise…

On Christ the solid rock I standAll other ground is sinking sandAll other ground is sinking sand

In Jesus’ Name!