A Conversation at 35,000 Feet
I was flying a trip to London recently. In the many hours it takes to cross the Atlantic Ocean, I talked at length with one of the other pilots. We have lots of time to talk during the long international routes that I prefer, and, quite predictably during this season of politics, we talked about the upcoming election.
At one point, he asked me what I thought would happen in November. My answer might sound flippant, but I was absolutely sincere when I said, “America will get what it wants.” Over the next short while, I clarified what I meant.
America Will Get What It Wants
I said Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” To me, this says that if you want God, and the things of God, He will give them to you. Romans 1:24, on the other hand, says, “Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts….” To me, this says that if you want the things of the world—the perversity, the materialism, the worship of self, the quest for power, the lawlessness, and the cruelty—God will let you have them.
Choosing God or the World
I explained that in November, Americans will vote for what they want. They will either choose God or the things of this world, and they will have them. Then, I added—and this is the part voters sometimes forget or blame on others—they will live with their choices.
Christians and the Voting Crisis
If you think about it, many Christians say they want godly things, but then they will tell you why they aren’t going to vote. And statistics bear this out. Sadly, with 90 million eligible Christian voters in the country, 40 million don’t vote, and 15 million aren’t even registered. All have reasons for their dereliction.
Excuses for Inaction
Some say that God will sort it out. Some say their vote doesn’t matter. Some say politics is too messy for them. Some act as though, unless Jesus is running for office, nobody is good enough. And some boil things down to one issue and then, like spoiled children, refuse to participate if they don’t get their way on that issue. They have all sorts of perspectives, but the ultimate reality is that those who care will vote, and those who don’t will find excuses.
No Perfect Candidates
The reality is that there are no perfect candidates. It’s politics. It’s messy. And it always comes down to the lesser of two evils or the best we can do with what we have. The reason is that so few people actually participate.
Neutrality in Times of Crisis
Dante Alighieri said, “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.” I don’t know about the hell part, but I do think a Christian should speak Jesus’ voice into civil affairs at every opportunity. I also believe you promote what you permit, and some things should be protested. And I think a lot about the Holocaust and how so few protested.
What’s at Stake in This Election
At stake in this election is whether or not the U.S. will support Israel or radical Islamic murderers and their state sponsors. At stake are the judges to be appointed by the winners who will adjudicate current and future legislation based on the Constitution or according to their personal and political views. At stake is the border crisis, our military readiness, the education system, and whether our children will grow up in a culture of true faith or a culture of perversity, racism, sexism, and gender dysphoria. At stake is an economy which supports American workers, hard work, work ethics, and business development or government regulation, cronyism, entitlement, and laziness. And because the Bible addresses all of these issues with unwavering clarity, without exaggeration, at stake in this election is the soul of this nation.
Your Vote is Your Statement
Your vote is your statement about the world in which you want to live. Whatever comes of the election, your vote conveys your desires, and failure to vote, or voting according to opinion and not the truths of the Bible, does the same. So, if America wants godly policies, it will vote for them. And if it doesn’t care enough to participate with a biblical worldview, it will have godlessness. Hebrews 11:16 says, “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” I guess we’ll soon see.
God bless, and semper fi.
