Skip to main content

Two Days After the Election

             Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:18-20)

 

               Do you hear the echoes of “if My people, who are called by My name…”? Yes, I’m still harping about politics two days after the election. Political elections didn’t happen in Biblical times, so you’re not going to find any passages that say, “If your party wins the election, you will eat the good things of the land.” Some like to think that having the government in their hands means everything will be all better soon. Both passages tell us that if we are right with God, things will improve.

            The problem is that “right with God” isn’t really a national thing. It’s not something the nation can do while we’re out doing our own things. Even if we elected spiritual giants as our representatives, that wouldn’t make things OK between you and God. Obviously, the decisions our political leaders make influence the moral condition of our nation, but they are not enough. Unless your life and my life are not right, we have no right to expect a blessing. We will get blessings because God is a blessing god, but they won’t be equal to the blessing we will get if we get our lives right. And if we are only getting our lives right to get the blessing, we aren’t getting out lives right at all.

            And the only way we’re going to get out lives right is if we are 1) looking to Scripture, and 2) getting a clearer vision of who God is, and 3) actively pursuing righteousness. As I look at that list, I find myself a little discouraged because when I look at Scripture, I don’t seem to get a clearer vision of who God is. Intellectually, I can tell you about God, and I probably experience Him much more than I think I do. Still, I have a problem with seeing myself as the woman at the well, Daniel, or Deborah, and seeing God being with me like He was with them. Either they are exceptional in some positive way, or I’m exceptional in some negative way.

            But if we are going to eat the good things of the land, we have to start where we are and make the changes we need to make. And to stop being rebellious and resistant, we need to recognize when and how we are being those things. You can’t stop doing something you don’t know you’re doing.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more