Determination.

Determination.
With God, all things are possible. So buckle up, show up, and NEVER give up.

Monday, November 7, 2016

Just the Right Time


Ten years ago now - man, that's hard to believe! - I was in seminary. It was a place where, among other things, I learned how to deliver a sermon. One of the biggest tips I've carried with me that I hope infuses every occasion when I talk about Jesus to anyone else, was to "make and preach every sermon first to yourself." What I'm about to write here I definitely have to also meditate on myself every bit as much as I want you all to. Cuz, believe me, I need to hear this too. It's so hard not to be emotional about what's about to happen with tomorrow's election.

And by the way, I know I'm not the first in this election season to promote the message that's to follow, but hopefully, as we're coming down to the last 24 hours of Election Season 2016, mine can be one of the last and thereby, one of the stronger messages, to pass by your eyes before you make it to the polls (and, if you're one of those early voters, this can still apply). 

Let me lay some Scripture on you:

"[Christ Jesus] gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time." - 1 Tim. 2:6 (NLT)

This passage is incredibly timely, don't you think? I mean, isn't it amazing how ANY time is the right time to be reminded about our freedom in Christ. As the NIV Bible translates that verse's first part, we were "ransomed" by Jesus. We were held as hostages of Satan, sitting in a heap of shame on the floor of the bank vault with a vest full of C-4, and the Devil's thumb on the detonator. Then in walked Jesus, and he said, "Here, take my life instead, and let these people go free." And that's what happened. 

Don't get me wrong, these ARE troubling times for sure. We're about to watch an election unfold, the stakes of which have never been higher, between two candidates who couldn't be more polarizing, and no one really knows what to expect next. 

Many Christians fear what will happen to our country's future if Hillary Clinton is elected. And even among Donald Trump supporters there are very few who have a lot to stand on, to insist that he's a sure bet to lead us to greener pastures as a nation. We're all just holding our breaths, hoping it doesn't end up as badly as it feels like it could. 

But even though the expected implications of this election are worrisome or uncertain at best, or downright terrifying (from a political standpoint) at worst, let's all just chill out. We don't need to be truly fearful. 

At the end of the day, God is once again standing by with a banner of his own waving...and it says "I have given you true freedom through Jesus!"

That's right, at the end of tomorrow, when the results are coming in and we're all glued to our TV sets, nibbling our fingernails clean off, Jesus will still be our savior. We'll still have a message to consider that, once again, comes at just the right time. 

No matter what happens tomorrow, Jesus is Lord. No matter whether we keep our earthly freedoms, gain some back, or lose even more, Jesus is Lord. No matter whether we see our religious freedoms restricted or protected, Jesus is Lord. No matter whether our country heads down a road toward tyranny or even complete collapse, Jesus is STILL Lord. We want the best for ourselves and our children, but once this life is over, and once this world exists no more, we who place our trust for eternity in Jesus Christ will have a home with complete justice and freedom, pure love and equality, shining with real safety and prosperity, and radiating with the presence of our King. 

If the thought of your salvation, and heaven as your eternal home, hasn't been pondered heavily enough lately, PLEASE - - you owe it to yourself. It's great news, and especially right now, it's a message coming to you at JUST THE RIGHT TIME!



No comments:

Post a Comment