The current election cycle is enough to give a person the heebie-jeebies. The ludicrous nature of what is happening concerning the highest office of this country makes me think of the Bible’s truth that as the time of Christ’s return draws nearer, times will grow increasingly difficult or dangerous. “People will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:2-5, ESV, emphasis mine). Do any of the aforementioned terms make you think of any of the candidates – or us – the people casting the votes? History has always demonstrated the reality of sin and selfishness in humanity at every turn, but the Word of God does hold forth that this actuality will become more and more rampant and increasingly obvious as time flows on. Jesus likened the proliferation of sin and deception in the last days to birth pains – growing in both intensity and frequency (Matthew 24:8). Jesus Christ also pointed out that deception will intensify (Matthew 24:11, 24). It is no real surprise, then, that each election brings new, shocking disappointments. Placing all events, including this coming election, against the backdrop of God’s grand revelation of truth provides a comfort in tumultuous times.
We cannot be sure about the coming presidential election. We cannot know the result yet, and we certainly do not have much confidence in what will happen after a specific man or woman is put in office. But there is an election that we can be sure about, and that is the choice that really matters. In fact, the solidifying of this particular election can allow a soul to rest in the midst of political chaos and pain. God is always calling us to act obediently with respect to each detailed circumstance of the day and to trust implicitly with regard to the big picture of life and eternity. Our responsibility as citizens of earth is clear, but our responsibility as citizens of heaven is even more explicit. As the Apostle Paul joyfully proclaimed, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV). My first allegiance is to heaven and all things heavenly. Accordingly, I obey the Word of God in caring for my citizenship on this earth as God commands; and if ever my allegiance to heaven is challenged by earthly government, heaven must prevail every time. In the meantime, God calls me to care for my soul’s position before Him as my foremost priority. He, then, takes care of all else – including, incredibly, my life and the government under which I reside.
Let’s look at the election to which God draws our attention. He speaks the mandate through Peter, an apostle of Jesus who at this specific time of his writing is about to die and enter the Lord’s presence. Peter said, “For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life, so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone” (2 Peter 2:14-15, NLT). So we see that whatever Peter is relaying to us in this passage is of utmost importance, because he wants us to remember it long after he is gone. 2 Peter 1:10 spells it out for us: “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” Do you see it here? We are to confirm – or make sure of – our calling and election. The election spoken of here is the election of you by God for His salvation through Jesus Christ. God cast His vote for you when He sent His only Son to die for your sin. In believing in Jesus Christ, you responded to God’s call. The Holy Spirit now admonishes us through Peter that our momentous responsibility is to confirm that election through a life meticulously examined under the lens of the holiness of God and powerfully submitted to righteousness by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Charles Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers” (1834-1892) said it this way, “It requires a great deal of diligence and labor to make sure our calling and election; there must be a very close examination of ourselves, a very narrow search and strict enquiry, whether we are thoroughly converted, our minds enlightened, our wills renewed, and our whole souls changed as to the bent and inclination thereof; and to come to a fixed certainty in this requires the utmost diligence, and cannot be attained and kept without divine assistance, as we may learn from Psalm 139:23 and Romans 8:16.”
Have we recently spent time scrutinizing our election? Are we continually assessing our position with God? It is what we must do to ensure that we “never fall” (2 Peter 1:10, ESV). I am to be responsible as a citizen to vote for a presidential candidate whom I believe has good character traits, but I cannot ensure that fact. My greatest duty is to be sure of my own standing before God. A growing display of the fruit of God’s Spirit in my life, an increased devotion to Jesus Christ, and a growing sensitivity and repulsion to sin are evidence of my election – my having been chosen by God to be His child. This duty is so great that 2 Peter 1:11 (ESV) promises the following, grand result: “For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Did you hear that? Ensuring my election causes me to gain a rich entrance into the eternal kingdom of the Lord! No matter how great a president we have ever had or ever will have, none comes even slightly close to the glory of the King of kings and Lord of lords! No earthly government or kingdom provides the infinite peace and growth of the coming government of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6-7). Though I cannot be confident of what will happen in the next election in the United States of America, I am guaranteed a truly miraculous result when I yield my life to God with earnestness and self-examination.
There is an election of which you can be certain. It is the election of your soul by God through the blood of Jesus Christ. If God commands us to confirm this election, then it, indeed, can be confirmed! God does not cruelly demand the impossible. He means for you to work it out, to keep growing, and to make your relationship with Him the thing about which you invest most of your affection, time, and care. With this priority in place, all other issues fall into their proper place. God will care for His own no matter who wins the presidency. You simply cannot be positive about earthly, government elections; but you can be confident of your heavenly election. And you can count on the One who is sovereign over all (Psalm 47:2, Ephesians 1:11). His kingdom is coming without regard to the presidency. His kingdom is coming for those who make their own election sure.
