Have you ever been in a meeting or a class and just started day-dreaming? I bet you have, because a lot of people do. I’ve done it. Classes and meetings can get boring and so we start wondering about this or that other thing. When my best friend was engaged to be married, we had a conversation about the wedding planning up to that point. We were on our way to a doctor’s appointment after our college classes were done for the day. He said that he wanted to do an outdoor wedding and I started laughing. It may help you to know we were on our way to a doctor that helps my best friend with his ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In other words, he sometimes has a hard time focusing on things. After I started laughing, I told him he couldn’t have an outdoor wedding. Of course, in response, he asked why he and his wife couldn’t. So, I told him that we’d probably be there standing in front of the audience, the pastor would be talking about something, and he would be just looking around at the trees, squirrels, and birds, completely oblivious to what was happening there in front of him. After some thought, he completely agreed with me, and they ended up having their wedding in a church.
Aren’t we like that sometimes, though? Even when we aren’t daydreaming, we may have a hard time focusing on what we should. Over the last several months, the United States has been focused on the presidential election in November, which is coming up fast now. Every registered voter is faced with the question of Trump, Biden, or a third-party candidate such as Jo Jorgensen. I feel that I should say, before I go further, that I have never been much interested in politics. I do my part and vote for who I feel is the best option, but I don’t get all involved in parades or flags or anything else. I don’t hold anything against those of you who do take part in all of that, but it’s just not for me. I would warn you, though, to be careful that this election and all the hoopla around it don’t get unwarranted space in your mind; that they don’t become, in some form, an idol. I don’t use that word very often, but I think in all that is going on, this year in particular, we can easily put too much weight on an election, given what the Bible tells us about politics, which is next to nothing. There are some things, though, that the Bible gives guidance on that can help us keep our mind right.
Over the last several months, I have been leading a Revelation study, both at church and at my small group at Williams’ house. It has been really convicting at times and a lot of fun at others. One of the main points in Revelation, is that God will judge those that set themselves up against Him as well as those who put their trust in earthly, temporal systems. There are many evil characters in the book of Revelation. The 2 beasts in chapter 13, the dragon in chapter 12, and the prostitute in chapter 17. We are told that the dragon is Satan and the prostitute is Babylon, which is a code word first century Christians used to describe Rome. The 2 beasts are also connected to Rome and its emperor. I’m not going to get into all the symbolism here for times sake, but hopefully you can trust me on those symbols. From chapter 18 to the end of the book, judgments take place on all the evil characters. Chapter 18 deals with Babylon, chapter 19 with the 2 beasts, and chapter 20 with Satan. All that’s left is God, who is time and time again described as, “the one who sits on the throne.”
Go ahead and vote for Trump or Biden or anyone else, but we need to keep in mind who sits on the true throne and trust His judgment. In Romans 13, a popular passage around this time of the year, Paul instructs us to submit to governing authorities, because they have been put in their position by God. I don’t know if you know this or not, but when Paul wrote Romans, he was on house arrest for preaching the Gospel. Nero was the emperor at the time and Nero persecuted Christians like it was his favorite hobby. Paul and John and all the rest of the apostles lived during a time when being a Christian was life-threatening. A lot of Christians today around the world also live in such situations. Some of you are probably worried that we are coming to such a time in this country. I don’t know if we are or not. That’s not totally in my control, nor is it completely in yours either. We just get one vote each. What I am saying is don’t allow this election or the results determine your mindset. Don’t give this election more space in your mind that is necessary. God is on the throne. He is in control of whatever happens. Our job as Christians is to love others and spread the gospel. This world desperately needs us to do that right now. We have the power to control our actions and decisions. Let those actions and decisions be reflective of what God’s word says. God will take care of the rest.
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” -Revelation 20:10 (NIV)
