And so it begins.
The Beginning of the End...
What is ending?
It's January 20th, 2021, Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Kamala D. Harris will be sworn in as the 46th President and Vice President of the United States of America. They follow after the 45th President and Vice President, Donald J. Trump, and Mike R. Pence. We go from Republicans leading our country, to Democrats. Two parties that have different perspectives on the United States of America and how it should be led.
So much has happened leading up to this day. 2020 was one of the craziest years I have ever lived through. COVID-19, I've called it the world-changing virus, took so many lives. It also did not help the political climate in America. The rhetoric against the Trump administration as they led the country through this pandemic was vulgar, and not supportive. So many had better ideas since they weren't in office, so many could have saved so many lives since they weren't calling the shots, so many had opinions that could have helped, but they fail to realize that theory and reality are two different things. There's no doubt that things could have been better, hindsight this year is 2020, but the Trump Administration did their best in handling the pandemic.
Then there's the issue of justice. America, the land of freedom and opportunity, did not start off with the most beautiful history. Racism, segregation, dehumanization, and prejudice were once inseparable from American culture at some point. There were literally laws and practices that promoted evil. Through time, bold leaders, and Christians, have helped America progress and deal with its many grievances. There's still room for improvement, but we can't disregard the improvement that has been made. Not only did COVID-19 cause damage, but hatred and protests did also. Phrases like "Black Lives Matter" and "I Can't Breath" were widespread as many fought against systematic racism. The point is, a lot has happened and the inauguration of the 46th president is connected to more emotions than any recent presidential inauguration in my lifetime.
Some are saying that it's the end of America as we know it. "The Biden Administration will take us towards fascism, the Trump Administration was our last hope!" So many are holding onto crazy conspiracies in hopes that former President Donald J. Trump will have a 2nd term. Last night I saw someone tweet concerning Sidney Powell something along the lines of, "She can still save us. She can still release the Kraken!" Whether you think voter fraud happened on a national and/or global scale, or not, Biden is being inaugurated into the presidential office as I type this post. Is it the beginning of the end...?
Well, that depends. If your only hope is in America, then it may be depending on where the Biden Administration leads this nation. If your only hope was in the Trump Administration, then that hope is gone since he isn't in office anymore, BUT if your Hope is Jesus the Christ, then it's not the beginning of the end for you despite what happens in America. As I read Facebook posts, read tweets, read blog posts, have in-person conversations, and watch videos, I am sad to realize that so many Christians seem to have made Trump their "living hope." Somewhere in the 4 years of Trump's presidency, for some Christians in America, he became more than just their "president," he became their "savior."
Too many Christians have brought the lie that the kingdom of this world is their home. Some have forgotten the higher citizenship they have which is in the Kingdom of Heaven that "is at hand." Too many have forgotten or have replaced their status as "sojourners and pilgrims" (1 Peter 2:11) who are "looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10, NASB). It's almost as if... America is their final destination? And because it is for so many, they see the inauguration of the Biden Administration as "The Beginning of the End..."
The interesting thing is that all great emperors and powers fall eventually... BUT the Church of Jesus Christ has lived on since its inception on the day of Pentecost. Friend, Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, came to establish a kingdom without end. Jesus commands us to enter in when he says "the Kingdom of God has drawn near; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:15, BLB). And friend, the Kingdom of God is a better Kingdom because of the better King. Too many people are American Christian's and not Christian's in America, a subtle but vital difference. Which are you? If you're a Christian, don't trade the Kingdom of God for the Kingdom of America. "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." (Hebrews 12:28, ESV).
So Christians, cheer up. Dark days are ahead, but it's always been that way! That's why Jesus Christ has said to His Church " you are the LIGHT of this world... let your light SHINE before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven." (Matthew 5:14,16. ESV). A survey of Church history will show you that the Church has always prospered and shined more in the dark. Look up the time of Tertullian, Christians under Nero, Martin Luther, John Wesley, Francis Asbury, and many others to find encouragement from their light in dark times! It was Jesus who helped His people before, and it is He who will help us now. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5, ESV).
Jesus Christ doesn't want the government to spread the Gospel, He wants His Church to do that. Kevin DeYoung said, "We cannot bring about the kingdom by political elections, humanitarian good works, environmental stewardship, or the cultivation of the arts. The kingdom comes when and where the King is known." That King is Jesus, not Trump or Biden. The Minister of Music at my church, Pastor Jerald Glick, wrote these beautiful lyrics:
"The Gospel of the Kingdom is still our only Hope today.
This message of salvation is still the truth, the life, the way.
Help us Lord to pray, share the word, Touch the lives who’ve never heard.
The Gospel of the Kingdom is still the light that will penetrate and dispel the darkest night.”
So how are you to live under a Biden Administration? The same way you were supposed to live under Trump's Administration. R.C. Sproul pens in his book "The Prayer of the Lord", "John Calvin said it is the task of the church to make the invisible kingdom visible. We do that by living in such a way that we bear witness to the reality of the kingship of Christ in our jobs, our families, our schools, and even our checkbooks because God in Christ is King over every one of these spheres of life. The only way the kingdom of God is going to be manifest in this world before Christ comes is if we manifest it by the way we live as citizens of heaven and subjects of the King." Christians are foreign people in a foreign land, let's point people to the foreign King we serve because one day, "at the name of Jesus every knee (will) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11). Let's bow by choice now and lead others to bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ also. Trump's administration is ending, but the Kingdom of God is not.
My mind goes to the truth found in these powerful lyrics of the song "Is He Worthy" by Andrew Peterson,
"Do you feel the world is broken?
(We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen?
(We do)
But do you know that all the dark won't
Stop the light from getting through?
(We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new?
We do)
Is all creation groaning? (It is) Is a new creation coming? (It is) Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is) Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is) Does the Father truly love us? (He does) Does the Spirit move among us? (He does) And does Jesus, our Messiah hold forever those He loves? (He does) Does our God intend to dwell again with us? (He does)
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll? The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave He is David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave From every people and tribe Every nation and tongue He has made us a kingdom and priests to God To reign with the Son
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Of all blessing and honor and glory Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Is He worthy of this? He is! Is He worthy? Is He worthy? He is!"
Live a life that shows Jesus Christ is worthy because He is! You'll be amazed at how many people will be drawn to Jesus because of it.
"The early church didn’t say, ‘Look what the world is coming to!’ They said, ‘Look what has come into the world’!" -- Carl F. H. Henry
コメント