I am not a politician, nor am I a political junkie. I am a follower of Jesus, a husband and a dad, and a pastor of an awesome local church. 

But I was intrigued by the goings-on during this election season so I followed the news cycle more than I have in past elections. And today I thought I’d make a list of some of my strongest impressions coming out of this most unusual election season.

I’m a bullet-point list kind of guy, so that’s the format I’ll use. Here we go...

• Like many people I wasn’t wild about either presidential candidate. I’m still surprised that a bunch of the other Republican primary candidates didn’t get together somewhere along the line, pool their support, form a prospective cabinet, and run as a team ticket. Didn’t happen.  Not sure why.
• I did vote. There wasn’t much enthusiasm in my heart for the candidate I voted for, but I felt compelled to exercise that right and responsibility that so many have fought to secure for me. 
• Like always, I voted in a church building. It’s humorous to me that amidst all the cries for separation of church and state it’s apparently not a violation of that principle to vote for political candidates on a voting machine that’s located in a house of worship. Very ironic.
• Trump won. He did it. I’ve gotta hand it to him. He accomplished the improbable (kind of like the Cubs winning the World Series). Despite his many foibles, embarrassing and distasteful comments, and off-putting manner, he somehow managed to pull it off. Unpolished, rancorous, and juvenile at times, Trump nevertheless convinced enough people living in the right regions to vote for him. Truly a remarkable feat for a non-politician.
• Hillary lost. I’ll just leave it at that.
• Lots of evangelicals voted for Trump. They evidently looked beyond the filthy talk, alleged escapades, and overweening arrogance--deciding they weren’t voting for a pastor but for a president--hoping he will make good on at least some of his many promises.
• Christians should be wary of human leaders who make messianic promises. Historically, no leader has ever accomplished everything they promised on the campaign trail. We are wise to set our expectations at a reasonable level and avoid the kind of heart-crushing disappointment that millions have experienced in previous eras.
• The population of our country is deeply divided. Two vastly different worldviews exist. Only the heart-melting, mind-renewing Gospel of Jesus could ever truly unite our country.  I hope and pray it will.
• I ache more than ever for the arrival of a Truly Righteous Ruler who will come and usher in the truly good life for His people. It wasn’t Bush. Barack didn’t live up to his billing. Trump can’t possibly achieve all that he claims will be so easy. I think there’s something in each of us that longs to be ruled by a Servant Leader who has trod the path ahead of us. This election has made me want that even more.
• Jesus Christ is the only leader who ever can and will deliver on everything He promised. If Jesus ever decided to come to the United States and run for President, he probably wouldn’t get elected. But He has no intention of being an elected official. He is a King, and one day He will return to our planet to lay claim to His rightful inheritance. He will reign over nations just as He has been ruling in hearts for thousands of years.
• My ultimate hope for a BETTER LIFE does not rest in any man or woman. It’s anticipation is not stirred by lofty campaign promises or inspiring vision talk. No human leader can bring what my heart longs for most. But Jesus can. And He most certainly will. He is the King OF Kings and Lord OF Lords. There is none like Him.
• His Word is the foundation of my hope. It tells me of His Majesty and Power, His sovereign selection of human rulers to accomplish His purposes, and His ultimate triumph over all of his enemies...

 

Daniel 2:20-21 Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.  He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.

Psa. 47:2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.

Psa. 95:3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Psa. 72:11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!

Psa. 75:6  No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man.  7 But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.

Prov. 21:1   The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Dan. 2:44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people.  It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.

Is. 60:3  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Rev. 6:15-17 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Psa. 102:15 Nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.

1Tim. 2:1-6 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of  God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

1Tim. 6:15-16 .... he who is the blessed and only Sovereign,  the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in  unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Psa. 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.