By: Brian G. Chilton | November 3, 2020
Well, Election Day is upon us! This is the day that many people have both anticipated and dreaded. On the one hand, people have anticipated this day because it will bring an end to the seemingly infinite number of election ads. On the other hand, many have dreaded this day due to the fear that the other candidate than the one they desire will win. Many pundits claim that this election is the most important as it will change the direction of the nation. This election has brought great anxiety to many. For others, it has brought about the level of devotion that has previously been found at tailgating parties at football games. While recognizing the importance of this election, I want to remind you of a few things. My prayer is that these insights will help you place political elections in its proper perspective.
First, pundits normally blow things out of proportion. Pundits want you to think that the opposing candidate will destroy life as we know it. As a student of history, I have been tracing the pomp surrounding previous elections. Political pundits from both parties have claimed that the opposing candidate will bring an end to the nation. Democrats said that Trump was a second-coming of Hitler in 2016. Republicans claimed that Obama was a socialist who would end the American Republic as we know it in 2012 and 2008. But here we are in 2020. We are still here. The American Republic has not collapsed. We have not become communists and neither have we sanctioned another holocaust. Now, I realize that extremists on both sides will read the previous statement and find some claim to propose how the “other side” is evil. To put this in further perspective, I listened to an episode of a radio program which noted disturbances going on in the Middle East. The announcer propagated that the events would bring the end of the world before the year was out. The program was recorded in 1998. Twenty-two years later, we are still here. That is not to say that there will not come a day when God brings everything to an end. However, only God knows when that day will come. Nonetheless, remember the words of Jesus, “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt. 6:34, CSB).
Second, God is still sovereign. Yes, we have the responsibility to vote our conscience. Yes, we have responsibilities given our free will. However, God still sovereignly operates concurrently with human actions. That is, God will bring about the results that he intends. The book of Proverbs provides some helpful insights at this juncture. Solomon writes, “We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall” (Prov. 16:33, NLT). Furthermore, he writes, “the Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Prov. 20:24, NLT). He does not say that we cannot ask questions and explore new insights. Rather, Solomon holds that God controls the hidden aspects of life. Some things will not be understood until one reaches eternity. Ultimately, it is God who “makes nations great, then destroys them; he enlarges nations, then leads them away” (Job 12:21, CSB). Thus, whether your candidate wins or loses in this election or in future ones, realize that God remains in control of the course of history.
Finally, the kingdom of God trumps all others. There is one nation that will reign supreme in the end, and it is not the nation in which you currently reside. Yes, I am patriotic. Yes, I love the United States of America. But Scripture does not state that the United States of America will reign supreme. Rather, the revelation of God indicates a day will come when Christ will appear with the clouds of glory, and “every eye will see him … and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him” (Rev. 1:7, CSB). The kingdom of God will reign supreme. The King of that nation is not affiliated with an elephant or a donkey, but rather he is known as the Lamb of God!
In conclusion, take a deep breath. Rest easy. No matter what may come, God is still in control. God has you in the palm of his nail-scarred hand. God has this and any future election that may come. Do your part. Vote. Then, leave the results with God. He has been navigating the course of history for far longer than you have been alive. He has done pretty well without our input. I trust that he will continue to guide the course of history to the point that the saints of God will live in eternity with no pain or heartache. At that point, we will live in a perfect nation governed by a perfect ruler. Until that time, we must trust in God’s sovereign control. To simplify this even more, just trust God and stop worrying.
About the Author
Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com, the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast, and the author of the Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has served in pastoral roles for over 20 years.
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