God Wasn't Running For President

Finally...it is over! This past year’s Presidential race has been a mental strain for so many Americans and now it is finally over and we can move onto the next major issue in our lives…

So, did your man or your woman win?

Or did your man or your woman lose?

After all of the mudslinging that went on did you figure out whose side God was on? How did you come to that conclusion?

And just because your man or woman won or lost, is that really the determination for whose side God is on?

So, now that it is over, what do you do besides take down your political yard sign as you cry out for a re-call when your candidate didn’t win, and therefore something must be done?

First of all, we are called to pray whether or not our man or woman lost or won the election. We are called to pray whether or not we like who is in office. This is true for the presidential race and every political office as well. WE are called to pray. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered Himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.

Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray—not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God.

Secondly, you do know that God wasn't running for President? If He was He would have won by a landslide…

No, God wasn't running for President; He never does, and never will...He doesn’t have to simply because He is God and yes, He is still in control…whether or not your man or woman won or lost. He is still Lord. He is God. In fact mankind’s attempt to be in control sometimes makes Him laugh…at least for a short-time as He patiently waits for them to realize their folly. Psalm 2 (MSG Version) says:

Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth-leaders push for position,
Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers:
“Let’s get free of God!
Cast loose from Messiah!”
Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing.
At first He’s amused at their presumption;
Then He gets good and angry.
Furiously, He shuts them up:
“Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet
Is spread for Him on the holy summit.”

Let me tell you what God said next.
He said, “You’re my Son,
And today is Your birthday.
What do You want? Name it:
Nations as a present? continents as a prize?
You can command them all to dance for You,
Or throw them out with tomorrow’s trash.”

So, rebel-kings, use your heads;
Upstart-judges, learn your lesson:
Worship God in adoring embrace,
Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah!
Your very lives are in danger, you know;
His anger is about to explode,
But if you make a run for God—you won’t regret it!

Look up and see what God will do!

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson