Chatter is picking up regarding the 2016 elections. Will the predominant Democratic presidential candidate be Hillary Clinton or someone else? On the other side of the aisle, which of the twelve men “seriously considering running for the office of President” will receive the coveted Republican nomination. Or perhaps, this will be the year of the third party or independent candidate. In the Senate, Democrats have held the seats of power for almost a decade. Now Republicans are found at the helm. After their terms and tenures are complete, whom will the nation choose to fill their vacant seats?
Perhaps America will learn from the past and get it right this time. Perhaps the citizenry of our land will experience some sort of political revival, and this will result in them selecting individuals – from whatever party – who are passionate about applying God’s wisdom, serving their people, and sacrificing themselves in the process. However, what American needs not is more of the same. What America needs not is more leaders who rule as did the chief priests and elders in the day of Jesus:
When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” (Matthew 26:1-5)
Jerusalem’s chief priests and elders listened not to God. Oh, they were religious, and the went to church. They practiced their ceremonial feasts, but they had no interest in hearing God’s voice and doing what he required. These men valued not the older revelation from the Law, Prophets, and Writings, and they valued not the newer revelation coming forth from the Son of God. They were a law unto themselves, and they proved themselves to be ridiculously fickle and harmful to their constituents.
In addition, these men were not public servants. They had no interest in sacrificing themselves for the good of their constituents. Instead, they were willing to squelch a voice, ostracize a community, murder a individual, and court a large part of their constituents in order to secure promotion, power, prosperity, and preservation. Sadly, the chief priests and elders were the worst of leaders: focused not on God, focused not on righteousness, focused not on servanthood, obsessed with themselves.
Friends, Americans have seen such men and women in leadership for a long time, and they should be weary of executive, legislative, and judicial leaders who heed not the wisdom of God, make up ethics as they go along, and fleece the flock in order to serve their own self-interests. So perhaps the American populace has had enough. Would not it be wonderful if the legal citizenry of the United States of America voted in 2016 for servant-leaders who looked more like Jesus and less like Caiaphas? It seems too good to be true, but it is a dream worth praying, spending, and working toward. Oh that God would bring about such a political revival. It would be a great improvement and a splendid season of life for the great country in which we live.
However, as in the day of Jesus, perhaps God will not allow the political landscape to be so drastically changed. Perhaps he will allow the status quo to thrive because he is more interested in bringing about spiritual revival through political chaos. And if this be the case, let those who worship the Sovereign God rejoice; ultimately this is best for God and God’s people. If political revival does not come, let the Church not be depressed or dejected. For just as God providentially worked out his perfect plan in the days of the the chief priests, the elders, and Caiaphas, he is still working out his perfect plan in the days of the chief justices, the legislators, and President Obama, and he will continue to work out his perfect plan in the next round of elected and appointed leaders — regardless of whether they are of the Democratic, Republican, or have a Third-Party label.
Friends, ultimately the hope and trust of those in the Church are in the Lord. But now, that being said, wouldn’t it be great if God chose to show his mighty hand and work both spiritual and political revivals in this “Nation under God.”
And by the way, America is still one nation under God, even if she refuses to claim such a position.
Unfathomable Grace 