Election day: Not the End of the World

By Matt Watson

It’s the day after Election Day. While we triple-check and count all the votes waiting for a clear winner, unsurprisingly the world is still turning, and life is continuing on. That is because no matter who is elected to office, either through democratic elections, tyrannical coups, or through corruption, God is still in control.

God is Ruler

God the Father’s will does not change no matter who is elected. Nothing can overthrow him, and though we human mortals may try to challenge God’s authority over all things, the fact remains that he is unmoved, and does not change (Num 23:19, Heb 13:8, Jas 1:17). That is a wonderful and secure truth. If racism does not end in the next four years, or abortions stop, or social justice becomes universally exercised, or healthcare changes, or any of our other issues of concern, God is always making his will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Hear this: Neither being an ardent Republican or Democrat, neither supporting Biden nor supporting Trump can change who God is or how he feels about you in his Son Jesus. Romans 13:1 says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” That means no matter who was elected, they only sit in power because God lets them.

It also means that they answer to him. The book of Romans was written in the time of Nero as emperor of Rome. He infamously set Rome on fire in order to systematically persecute Christians and execute them in the most horrible ways. But according to Romans 13, Nero’s authority is instituted by God, and he also answers to God. The same is true for Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus, David and Solomon, and Joe Biden and Donald J. Trump.

True Hope for the Real Issue

The real issue is not will certain policies be enacted or overturned. The real issue is sin. Sin corrupts everything we do, including every system we create. Democratic republics like the United States are just as corruptible as everything else we touch because it is created by sinful man. We cannot escape the sin and guilt inherited from our first parents in Eden (Gen 3, Rom 5:12). We also cannot then put our hope and trust in a government leader. We are in the same boat with them, sinners bound for punishment for violating righteousness.

Our hope then is not in government leaders or programs, but in the one who removed our sin and led the way for us to be in right relationship with our Father. While we were still his enemies, King Jesus removed our sin-guilt and our shame by becoming the punishment for us on the cross. We now have hope and life because he has rescued us. Not George Washington and his predecessors.

As Christ loved his enemies, allowing us to become adopted brothers and sisters as children of God, so too do we love our enemy. This is not the time to revile the other party. When Jesus “was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:23). This is the time to love those that are different from us. As Jesus commanded, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:44-45).

This is not impossible, even for those outside the faith. Several neighbors have committed to remaining friends and supporting each other while supporting other candidates. We who have faith should even more so be willing to bridge the gap with people that are different than us, just as Jesus bridged the gap of sin with us.

Trust God and do not panic. Worship him. He keeps stars in constant temperature, planets in constant orbit, and he knows every hair on our head. He is God of the cosmic big picture, and God of the minute detail. We do not need to panic, instead, we need to trust in him and reflect who he is to others by loving our politically opposed neighbor, family member, and friend.