What to Do After the Election

This world is not my home I’m just a passing through, My treasures are laid up
somewhere beyond the blue (Reeves, Public Domain )

The longest election in American history is now over. One of the candidates has won, and more than half of the country is wallowing in disappointment, fear, and perhaps even rage. There were no really good choices this time as any rational, thinking person would agree. But now the decision is made and the United States has a new ruler. Our country is known for a smooth transition of power from one leader to the next. We have never before had riots or a candidate who refused to accept the outcome of a legitimate election. So now what?

Anyone who knows me knows I am somewhat of a political junkie. Every four years I tell myself I will not become embroiled in the political bantering, and every election cycle I fail. I have been extremely disappointed in the outcome of the last several presidential elections because I have disagreed with the candidate on moral and ethical grounds. This time was no different.

Here’s what I have decided to do today: today I am remembering that I am a citizen of a different kingdom. This world is not my home, and the United States of America is not my home; it is the place I am living until I get to my final destination.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20 (ESV)

Perhaps, like me, you have struggled to remember this truth. What I continually discover about me is I am far too great a sinner to involve myself in the world of politics. Considering the actions of most politicians that might be a surprising statement. Surely I can’t mean that the sin that I commit is worse than what we have seen made public about our politicians! No, I am not guilty of those things, but I am certainly guilty before God of sinful attitudes of the heart that have flowed from my mouth and through my fingers onto social media. This is not to my credit but instead to my shame. It is almost as though now that we are at the end of this awful election I am coming to my senses. It is like I am coming up for air after having been submerged in the muck and the murkiness of the last eight months.

2 Timothy 2:4 says, “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” I can see that I have failed miserably. I have become too entangled with these worldly things and I doubt I have pleased my Lord.

There is no doubt that we Christians are engaged in battle. The war between good and evil has never been more apparent and on the surface, it does not appear that we are winning. Even so, the matters of this country and the world are not as important as the matters of the kingdom of God.

And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:17 (NIV)

The will of God is that I present my body is a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1 – 2). I am to be living in complete submission to the Lord, offering my life to be used for his service, in ways that bring him glory (Romans 6:13). How can I do that if I am focusing on things that are temporary and meaningless considering eternity? Going forward, I must take seriously the exhortation of Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:21:

and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (ESV)

So, what do we do on November 9th and every day thereafter? We must live in this world; we must be responsible nation-dwellers and participate in the processes afforded to us by our Constitution. But, we must also remember that this world is not our home and our primary allegiance is to our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Our job, while we are here, is to make the most of every opportunity to present Jesus to every person that we meet, and to live our lives for His honor and His glory.

Oh, and about that war, I’ve read to the back of the Book…and we win!