Like many, my initial reaction to the news of President Obama’s re-election was a deflated “ugh”. For many different reasons, the results of yesterday’s voting was very disappointing. Naturally, all of us now wonder what the next four years will look like, and what this means for the present and future of America. (Dr. Albert Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, shares some post-election thoughts here.)
The main question for us is clear: As Christians – the “people of God” (1 Pet. 2:9,10) – how are we to think and live in an increasingly God-despising, Christ-denying, sin-loving culture? The answer is equally clear from all of God’s Word: we’re to live by faith in God and His salvation in Jesus Christ, obeying Him through the power of His Spirit whatever our circumstances, faithfully proclaiming the Gospel to those around us, with our hope fixed on the eternal glories He has called us to in Christ. These truths are prominent in the letter of First Peter, and throughout the New Testament. In short, God’s people must live as “sojourners and exiles” in this world (1 Pet. 2:11).
God sovereignly reigns (Ps. 103:19), and He has ordained the outcome of this election. We can be sure that He is not surprised or troubled, but that He is powerfully working everything after the counsel of His eternal will (Eph. 1:11). And as the transcendent, holy King of Kings, He will bring eternal judgment on all His enemies, and eternal salvation to those who trust His mercy in Jesus Christ.
Beloved, we are the people of God. Our identity and calling is bound up in our citizenship in His kingdom, not the kingdoms of this world. May we be resolved afresh to live and love together as His people, humbly testifying of the reason for the living hope we possess (1 Pet. 3:15). We may indeed suffer now, and more in the future, but our eternal inheritance in Him is secure (1 Pet. 1:3-9).
Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Greg