The Forest and the Trees

This past Tuesday’s election is going to change a lot of things.

I’m not exactly sure of what things—and neither are you, if we’re being honest. We’re not prognosticators, you and I. We have no crystal ball. I know there are a lot of things America’s new president-elect has said he’d like to change, and I’m sure there are a lot of things he’ll try to change. But I have no idea what things are going to actually change.

I also know that, because of Tuesday, one political party now represents the majority of the United States government. A lot of people are excited about that, a lot of people are terrified about that, and some people are just holding their breath and waiting to see what happens. In every case, the key player is uncertainty. What’s going to happen? What’s going to change?

We don’t know. We can’t know. We can hope, we can fear, or we can simply wait and see. That’s it. Those are our options when it comes to the uncertainty of change.

But this isn’t a post about politics. If you want that, go look at your Facebook newsfeed. You’ll find plenty of it there—the hope, the fear, the huge cloud of uncertainty and apprehension hanging over it all. I don’t need any more of that; do you? So let’s talk about something else instead. Let’s talk about some of the things this election can’t change. Things like…

• Your calling
• Who God is
• What God is doing
• Who’s really in charge
• Who you need to be
• What you need to be doing
• Where you need to be going

Those things are still the same. Always have been; always will be. Whatever happens next, this election (and everything that stems from it) is still just a blip on the timeline of eternity.

There are a lot of people out there wondering, “What happens next?” But you know the answer to that. You know what happens next. You’re going to get up tomorrow morning, and the morning after that, and every morning for the rest of your life, and you’re going to go be a Christian. You’re going to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. You’re going to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. As a good soldier of Jesus Christ, you’re going to refuse to get entangled with the affairs of this life; you’re going to fix your eyes on the goal and keep marching forward.

While the rest of the U.S. is arguing over popular and electoral votes, we know the truth. We know that we serve the Most High, who “rules in the kingdom of men” and “gives it to whomever He will” (Daniel 4:17). We know that

He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.

(Daniel 2:21-22)

We just got back from the Feast, and Satan is so eager to distract you. So eager to help you lose your focus and get caught up in the things that ultimately don’t matter.

Don’t let him.

Your job is the same. Your purpose is the same. The plan of God is the same. The Kingdom of God is the forest, and this election is just a single, solitary tree. Don’t lose sight of what really matters.

Onward, Christian soldiers.

Until next time,
Jeremy