As You Step Into the Voting Booth, Remember This
Editor’s Note: This week Americans go to the polls to elect the next US president and other officials on the ballot. With many in our nation so politically divided and fearful about the outcome, David Bryant reminds us of what he calls “the parallel universe” and shares an overriding truth that should fill all of us with great hope in Christ as we enter the voting booth, making the act of voting a worship experience.
As you read newspapers, and listen to the news, and take in the vast array of opinions on social media, trying to decide which candidates to vote for in this coming election, how are you feeling?
Weary of 18 months of non-stop campaigning? Discouraged by the level of discourse? Angry at the fecklessness of government officials? Sick of scandals? Fearful about the outcome?
Maybe you’ve decided you’re just not going to vote at all!
Black Hole?
Does it seem to you as if tomorrow we’re all stepping into some kind of a black hole?
Well, in a sense we are. Let me explain.
Black hole? The NASA website tells us:
Don’t let the name fool you: A black hole is anything but empty space. Rather, it is a great amount of matter packed into a very small area. The result is a gravitational field so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.
In other words, black holes may be invisible to the naked eye but they are as real as anything else in creation.
They represent what we might call a parallel universe, just as tangible as the universe we can see.
In the same sense, throughout this presidential campaign there has existed another reality beyond what we have read in newspaper op-eds, heard from cable talking heads, experienced at campaign rallies, or pondered looking at the candidates’ ads and tweets.
It’s the reality you can choose to step into as you step into the voting booth tomorrow.
What makes up this black hole, this parallel universe?
The Parallel Universe Confronting the Election
The answer, put simply: Jesus is Lord! He is Lord over all—including tomorrow’s election!
When Christians say that in everything Christ has the supremacy (Colossians 1:18) what we mean to say is that there exists another world next door to and actively engaged with the one imagined by Republicans or Democrats or Independents. It’s called “the kingdom of God’s dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).
Thus we should shout hallelujah as we go to the polls! Whatever outcome tomorrow’s election holds for America, God’s parallel universe, saturated with the spectacular sovereignty of his Son, presses on unabated—and will continue to do so long after kings and kingdoms have all passed away, including presidents and congressmen and governors! So . . .
As you step into the voting booth tomorrow, remember this:
According to the book of Revelation: Jesus reigns, at this very moment, as the supreme ruler over all the leaders of all the nations (Rev 1). All the authority and all the crowns of earth belong to him (Rev 5). In him all the kingdoms of this world are subsumed forever under the kingdom of our God and of his Christ (Rev 11).
By nothing more than manifesting his awesome presence he will destroy all evil principalities and powers, both seen and unseen, replacing them with a new creation inhabited by sovereign grace (Rev. 19-21).
This is the One who fully occupies Election Day 2016.
As you step into the voting booth tomorrow, remember this:
According to Ephesians 1: The Father whose mighty strength was revealed by raising Jesus from the dead and placing him at his right hand as Lord and Redeemer, has ordained his Son to continue to be exalted far above all other authority, up to this very hour.
Tomorrow as you vote, remember Jesus is in charge far above all powers and kings, all public officials, all political machines. He is above every name that is appealed to for order and direction in this world (including Clinton or Trump). God has placed all things under Christ’s feet not only to determine a single nation’s destiny, but above all for the growth and spread and impact of the entire Church (verse 23).
As you step into the voting booth tomorrow, remember this:
According to Romans 13: God’s plan for the ages incorporates all government officials (including US presidents) who serve (whether they know it or not) with a temporary, delegated authority, for the singular purpose of helping to fulfill God’s saving purposes among the nations. King Jesus raises leaders up; he also puts them down.
Thus, for believers, our main calling is to live and labor for Christ in light of the great day that is coming when his domain shall renovate totally all the saints, all creation, all governments, throughout all ages (vs. 11-12).
No wonder Paul writes in Romans 13 that Christians should daily “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 14)—no less so when we turn out to vote. That’s because in the end we should vote as unto Christ, with the mind of Christ (compare 1 Corinthians 2:16 with vs. 10-15). This means seeing the political landscape from the viewpoint of his throne (Colossians 3:1-4), with our eyes focused on the sure and certain triumph of his “forcefully advancing” kingdom (Matthew 11:12).
As you step into the voting booth tomorrow, remember this:
According to Jesus in Matthew 13: No matter which earthly personality resides in the White House during the next four years, Christ’s kingdom will never stop growing and expanding.
It’s like leaven quietly permeating a whole loaf of bread; it’s like a great tree rising up from imperceptible beginnings as a small seed; it’s like tiny grains sown in rich soil that over time faithfully produce a hundredfold crop.
And it’s like a coming harvest when citizens of his kingdom have so fully populated the nations that his glory can shine through us like the sun—unopposed, unmistakable, and undiminished forever.
As you step into the voting booth tomorrow, remember this:
According to 1 Timothy 2: First of all, we should pull the levers (or push the buttons) with a spirit of prayer—prayer for all those running for office (no matter who we vote for or who finally wins), both the minute we vote as well as the whole time the winners serve in office.
No matter who is governing, the Bible teaches that our top priority is to intercede that they might create a climate conducive to the sharing of the gospel, so that many more may come to know Christ as Mediator and Redeemer and Lord.
Ultimately, therefore, as we vote tomorrow we should ask our Father for results that ensure the spread of the fame and claim of Christ rather than simply limit our prayers to the survival of one nation or one political party.
Because whoever wins, Christ-driven appeals to heaven must never cease for every leader of every ideological persuasion, all for the sake of the advance of Christ’s unstoppable triumphs.
Finally, as you step into the voting booth tomorrow, remember this:
According to Philippians 1: As a direct result of the actions of pagan, ungodly, immoral, anti-Christian rulers throughout the Roman Empire, not the least being the emperor himself, over and over to his delight Paul was given increased opportunities to preach Christ.
He discovered that frequently the machinations of earthly powers and policies were overruled by the Father and used to create space for Paul to bear witness in places and within political establishments that he could never have penetrated otherwise—including in Caesar’s household and among his officials (vs. 12-13).
Therefore, let me close by revisiting Paul’s experience in Philippians 1. He shows us how to think about the true hope for any nation’s future, no matter who wins an election!
For America that hope impinges on how fully the Church in America rises up to pursue this vision from sea to shining sea.
I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they’ve learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God . . . Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on!
. . . everything happening to me in this jail only serves to make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. They didn’t shut me up; they gave me a pulpit! Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.
Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ . . . Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition . . . There’s far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There’s also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. You’re involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through. (Philippians 1, The Message, emphasis added)
The Christian’s Pressing Election Issue
No matter who becomes president after tomorrow, the most pressing issue is this:
At this defining juncture, what might the Spirit of God be preparing to accomplish for the reclamation and transformation of America through a multitude of believers he freshly awakens and enlivens by the supremacy of God’s Son, who put their hope in Christ the way Paul talks about here?
So, please vote.
But do so with a clear-eyed hope based on the parallel universe.
Do so as unto Christ.
Do so as unto this Christ.
Do so rejoicing in the Lamb who sits on the throne of the universe!
About the Author:
Over the past 40 years, David Bryant has been defined by many as a “messenger of hope” and a “Christ-proclaimer” to the Church throughout the world. Formerly a pastor, minister-at-large with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of Concerts of Prayer International (COPI) and chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee, today David provides leadership to ChristNow.com and to Proclaim Hope!, whose mission is to “foster and serve Christ-awakening movements.” Order his widely-read book at www.ChristIsAllBook.com. Â
What a beautiful reminder to keep our eyes focused on Jesus!
Thank you 🙂
For sure. Not only during today, Election Day — but especially after the Election concerning whatever candidates get into office. Thanks for writing me. David
What an immensely vital encouragement! Thank you.
I found this very encouraging, and I’ve shared it with some others too. Thank you!
Your feedback makes me so happy because one of the great desires of ChristNow.com is to give people a vision of the greatness of God’s Son that lifts their hearts with a renewed fullness of faith in Him. Thanks for writing. David
Becky, that’s what we hope happens with our blogs all the time–they get passed on. For one thing it means that your friends will also learn about ChristNow.com for the first time. And of course the site is loaded with a vast array of resources that are FREE and ready to be passed on in every direction. Thanks for writing. David