Look at Psalm 2 today if you are feeling frustrated by politics.
“Therefore you kings be wise, be warned you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.”
My immediate thought was this: Oh Lord, what nation does this? Are there any left that that serve you with fear and trembling? Satan whispers in my mind that you are impotent to stop this nation, even this world from it’s continuous descent into evil. My causes, and the causes of my children and my family and my church are lost ones.
But the truth of the matter is that I have read the Bible, this book, this beautiful love letter from a Holy and Just and Gracious One who loves us and pours out His mercy upon us. Even when we make fools of ourselves, elect fools to run our nation, and speak like fools – as if the ruler of this nation rules our hearts, God is with us. He has not abandoned or forsaken us.
Keep reading. In Psalm 5 it says:
“But I, by your great mercy [your deep, committed love] will come into your house.; in reverence I will bow down…..let all who take refuge in you be glad.”
Of course I am watching politics. Of course, it troubles me the turns our nation is taking, but the fact is, my hope was never in this great nation of ours, and if it were, it should not be.
Dear ones: We are not home yet.
Jesus says: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. (John 14:1) In my father’s house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place I am going.
And of course, Thomas, our dear Thomas, asks the same question that is on our lips these days:
“Lord, we don’t know where you are going, how can we know the way?” [Lord, we don’t know where our nation is heading and it terrifies us.]
Jesus’s answer:
I AM THE WAY
Don’t put your trust in imperfect rulers, in kingdoms, or in political processes. We don’t belong here. And those things don’t deserve our trust. But what we can do, is in love and fear and trembling, invite everyone we know to come with us when our final and rightful King returns. Leave none behind that must trust only in the security of our nation. Share your inheritance in God’s kingdom with all those who have no hope.
