"Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or left; keep your foot from evil." Proverbs 4: 25-27
During a conversation with a friend last night, we spoke of the difficult choices which lay before us on Election Day. The thought came to my mind of the various verses in the Bible about maintaining our walk with the Lord - not turning to the right or to the left. Is it just a coincidence that these terms are used to define the Republican and Democratic parties?
As I advised my friend, it is tantamount to the Christian to fix our eyes on Jesus. As we drive along, the political signs beckon us to lean this way and that, but if we keep our focus on the road ahead, we will not go astray.
In the book of Daniel, we are assured it is God who deposes kings and raises up others (2:21), but that doesn't mean we shouldn't exercise our right to vote prayerfully. We have a responsibility to uphold that which is valuable to the Lord as best we can at the polls.
When the outcome of this day is revealed on the morrow, nothing along my path with Jesus will have changed. No matter who is president, Jesus is still the King of kings and it is under His authority I live and move and have my being. Amen!
When Jesus stood before Pilate, His flogged body bleeding through the robe of purple in which the mocking soldiers had dressed Him, He gave no answer to the governor's probes. Finally, Pilate stated frankly, "Do you refuse to speak to me? Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above." (John 19: 10-11)
Even when it appeared that evil had won, God was at work executing his perfect plan of redemption, removing the sting of death and the power of the grave.
Perhaps you have already placed your vote, or you are flummoxed by the decisions before you. Let the Bible be your voter's guide: "Do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess." (Deuteronomy 5:32)
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12: 1-3
