An Election Guarantee

by David Garrison |  October 20, 2008
It seems that there is a high level of anxiety in our country right now.  From the slate of natural disasters that have come our way over the past several years, to worries about personal safety due to international and domestic violence, to fears about the economic situation not just in the USA but also around the world, people are really nervous and worried.  On top of that, we are getting ready to choose a new president to guide and lead our country for the next four years.
 
Depending on who you read or listen to, you will hear both good and not so good things about both presidential candidates and their choices for vice president.  There are as many opinions on the subject as there are people talking about it.  So what can we know for sure?  Are there any guarantees that we can count on this year?  I think there are.
 
First, we can count on this being a historic election.  Whether we elect our nation's first African-American president or the first female vice president, history will be made.  So there is a significant historic element to this election.
 
But it is the second guarantee that is more important.  If you listen to the rhetoric out there, you will find a great deal of concern from different sides about both the Republican and Democrat candidates and their running mates.  Frankly, I've been surprised at the level of concern, and sometimes even hatred, expressed about them.  I don't see why we need to be worried about who is elected, or fear which pair might next lead our country.  Why am I not worried?
 
Because I know that only one person will be our next president.  And that one person will be the one that God is calling to lead this country for the next four years.  I know this to be true because I firmly believe in the sovereignty of God and that even those in power in secular government are only there by His choosing.
 
"Sovereignty" is simply a technical term that means God is in control.  Nothing happens in this world without God being aware of it.  And one does not have to believe in God for His sovereignty to still be true.  Even Satan, we learn from Job 1, must submit all he does to God's will.  Because we know that God is love and "in all things works for the good of those who love Him," we can trust Him and His plans for us and our nation.
 
In Romans 13, Paul writes:
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Paul wrote this passage while the Roman Empire was under the rule of emperors that were not favorably disposed toward Christians.  Most were trying to find reason to cast off the yoke of Roman rule, and considered the lack of godliness of these rulers justification for doing so.  But Paul says that isn't the case.  Even these ungodly rulers are only rule by the grace of God.  Obviously, our situation isn't nearly so bad.
 
Both of the candidates have stated clearly their own faith.  While we may disagree with their politics or how they express their faith, we can be confident that they pursue their faith with intention.  And we can know that, whether they do or not, God is still in control.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
 
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
- Matthew 6:25-27, 33-34