Jer 51:1-53 | PS 99:1-9 | Prov 26:17 | Titus 2:1-15
As we approach another election cycle in our nation, once again we hear this is the most important election ever for this city, state, or nation. It is our right, privilege, and duty to vote as a citizen. When we pray, the purpose of prayer is not to get our will done, but to align our will with the will of God. God has spoken clearly about a multitude of issues. His Word is clear, black and white, and never gray. When we vote, as when we pray, we, in the faith, should have an easy time choosing, as, like in prayer, we should align our vote with that candidate which aligns most closely with God's will. Having done that, we have done what we can do. The times and the seasons are in God's hands, always have been and always will be. When the more godly candidate prevails we should thank God. When the godless candidate prevails, one should look honestly at the city, state, or nation that candidate represents and realize that our God also judges. God is sovereign and in complete control. God is just. When we look around at the state of affairs of our world, this is not a few rogue individuals bent on evil. Sadly, we are immersed in an evil and idolatrous world which chooses everything but God. God does not overlook evil, but He is patient, giving people time to repent and to seek Him. So, as this election cycle comes and goes, please evaluate the results biblically, and praise God no matter what the results.
Babylon was seemingly impenetrable. God raised them up to mete out justice to Judah and to many other nations who had chosen idolatry over the One True God. But like all worldly entities, lifted up in pride, they eventually failed to see God's hand and instead lifted themselves up. Realize when Babylon fell it was surrounded with walls that were 350 ft high, 8 ft thick, with 270 watch towers interspersed. They had a 20 yr supply of food, and the Euphrates river went right through the city giving it an endless supply of water against any siege attempt. But they fell in one day (read Daniel 5). It was not that other nations became stronger, it was that it was judgment time for Babylon. We read in Jeremiah 51:1-3, " This is what the Lord says: "I will stir up a destroyer against Babylon and the people of Babylonia. Foreigners will come and winnow her, blowing her away as chaff. They will come from every side to rise against her in her day of trouble. Don't let the archers put on their armor or draw their bows. Don't spare even her best soldiers! Let her army be completely destroyed." It was not due to the might of the opposing army, but the judgment of God. Just as Judah was overtaken by Babylon before this due to their sin, as we read in 51:5, "For the Lord of Heaven's Armies has not abandoned Israel and Judah. He is still their God, even though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel." Just as God chose the nation of Babylon to destroy Judah prophetically before it happened (Isaiah 39:5-7), the nation to destroy Babylon was mentioned by name many years before it occurred (Jeremiah wrote these words approximately 40-50 years prior to these events, and named the Medes (Jeremiah 5:11,28)).
We need to lift our eyes from the temporal and onto the eternal. We need to raise our eyes from individuals and movements and onto God who is in absolute control. We read in Psalm 99:8, "O Lord our God, You answered them. You were a forgiving God to them, but You punished them when they went wrong." Our hope cannot rest in the things of this world, for nothing in this world lasts or fully satisfies, Our hope must rest in the Person of Jesus Christ, as we read in Titus 2:11-14, "For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds." May we not live in fear of the results this election cycle, or for that matter, any election cycle, as our True King, Jesus Christ, is securely on His throne, and nothing will ever change that.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: