The stuff that controls you

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength (Mark 12:30).

Have you ever thought, "I need a new cabinet to show off my collection"? Have you ever told your spouse, "we need new curtains to go with the furniture we just bought"? Are you reluctant to throw things away because you might need them some day?

Do you own the things in your home, or do they actually own you? The last time you looked for a new place to live, did you pass on an otherwise perfect location because your furniture wouldn’t fit or wasn’t the right style? Have you ever moved to a larger place simply because you needed more room for storage? How much of your monthly income is spent on building a collection or restoring some antique? When children come to visit, do you always watch them closely to make sure they don’t touch anything valuable or precious? Do you worry about your home catching fire while you are away on vacation? How big a premium do you pay for insuring your personal property?

Our possessions are just that—possessions. They should not possess us. But all too often, the things we own start influencing our decisions. While on vacation, a lover of rare books might annoy her family by wanting to stop at every ‘used bookstore’ they happen upon, as she looks for volumes her collection is missing. A sports fan might empty the den and completely redecorate it with sports memorabilia, embarrassing his wife who shuts the door whenever they have guests. When a teen falls in love with a blouse, she might spend a lot of additional time and money to get coordinating slacks and the perfect accessories. In each case, personal property starts dictating personal behavior—behavior that is obsessive, inconsiderate, or wasteful.

Jesus said, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12:34). The things we treasure as important take control of us—they demand our attention and influence the decisions that we make. What do you want controlling you? Do you really want a dinette set telling you which house to buy? Or do you want the Son of God directing your behavior? Do you want your thoughts, words and deeds to be motivated by love? Do you want to be known for your patience, compassion and generosity? If you want a life that emphasizes these kinds of qualities, then Jesus needs to have first place in your heart.

Wake up!

The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature (Romans 13:11b-14a).

Have you noticed that many restaurants use dim lighting? The same is true for most bars. If you have gone out dancing, I’m sure that you’ve noticed how low they keep the lights. And what is more romantic than an evening together in front of a glowing fireplace, with the lights turned off?

Dim lighting is used by restaurants, bars and dance halls to create a feeling of intimacy. When the lights are low, the only people that you can see clearly are those who are close to you; others are hardly noticeable in the darkness and are easily ignored. Furthermore, in the darkness things look better than they are; there’s an old joke that says "the closer to closing time, the better your date looks." This is due in part to alcohol, but it also has to do with the darkness. In dim light, it is hard to see wrinkles or gray hairs; when you cannot see many details, your imagination tends to fill in the blanks, making things look more appealing than they would under a bright light. I have sometimes joked that the reason a restaurant keeps its lights dim is so you cannot see what your expensive dinner really looks like.

But while darkness can give you a false sense of intimacy and hide imperfections, it also has a dangerous aspect to its character. Most crimes occur at night. Criminals use the darkness to hide their activities. In the darkness, no one can see a figure breaking into a house. In the darkness, it is hard to see clearly the face of a kidnapper or a rapist. Further, most people sleep when it is dark, and being asleep is when a person is most vulnerable to attack. Many people are victims of crime while they are asleep, and are not aware that they are being victimized until it is too late.

Paul speaks about the dangers of darkness. He speaks of us sleeping in the night, a night filled with deeds of darkness like orgies and drunkenness…sexual immorality and debauchery…dissension and jealousy. What exactly are the dangers of living your life in darkness?

One problem is that of loneliness. Darkness is isolating. In a poorly-lit bar, you might value being able to forget about everyone who is hidden in the shadows while you talk privately with someone you want to grow closer to; but at two in the morning, when you are alone in a dark room with only your fear and loneliness to keep you company, shadows take on a frightening character. The hours spent alone in a dark house are much harder to endure than when that home is filled with sunlight. Darkness isolates us, breeding fear and loneliness.

Another problem with living in darkness has to do with reality. In a darkened restaurant, your food and your companion can seem more attractive than they truly are because the darkness can hide unappealing details. In the darkness it is easier to deny reality and believe what we want. In one of the songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, the deformed Phantom sings these words to the beautiful girl he desires: Close your eyes, for your eyes will only tell the truth, and the truth isn’t what you want to see; in the dark it is easy to pretend that the truth is what it ought to be. We can make mistakes in judgment when we let illusion disguise unpleasant reality.

The third risk of living in darkness is that of out-and-out danger. When we believe ourselves to be safely hidden by the dark, it is far easier to give in to the temptation to do wrong because we are not afraid of being caught. Not only are we endangered by the urge to do something that can get us into trouble, but we are also put in danger from others who plan to do us harm while we are unable to protect ourselves, asleep and blinded by the dark.

Satan loves the dark. He loves to make us feel all alone, because then we fear that Jesus is not with us. If Satan can convince us that our Lord is uncaring and far away, he can weaken our faith in Jesus’ love for us and trick us into giving up on having a relationship with the only Person who can forgive our sins and reconnect us to God. By definition, hell is the place where we are cut off from God’s love, and Satan uses the isolating power of darkness to give us a taste of hell when we become convinced that we are all alone in the night.

Satan loves the illusions of the dark. Satan loves it when we live in a fantasy world. When we live in darkness, the truth of God is hard to see because shadows obscure the light. When the truth is hard to see, we fill in the details from our own sinful imagination and inner dark desires. Men convince themselves that when a woman says "no", she really means, "try a little harder." Women convince themselves that spreading gossip does no real harm, because it is best that the truth be out in the open for everyone to see. Teens convince themselves that getting drunk shows how mature you are. When life is lived in darkness, it is easy to ignore the damaging effects of orgies and drunkenness…sexual immorality and debauchery…dissension and jealousy. Darkness permits the fantasy that I won’t get in an accident on my way home from the bar, that I won’t get AIDS or become pregnant from tonight’s sexual encounter, that I am not to blame for the conflict going on in my family. When we confuse fantasy for reality, we commit sins while believing that we are actually doing nothing wrong. Satan loves such delusions, because when we fool ourselves into thinking that evil is good, we do not see any need to go to Jesus for forgiveness. The devil hopes that when we are deceived by the illusions of darkness, we will die with our sins unforgiven and he can claim us forever.

And Satan loves it when he finds us sleeping in the dark. He loves finding people who could be lighting up their lives by spending time with God, but who cannot find the energy to worship or pray or study their Bible and instead nod off into vulnerable slumber. It is while we are alone in the dark, with God’s Word shut off in an unused corner of our hearts, that the devil attacks. He attacks with cancer and heart disease. He attacks through the abusive words and deeds of those who we thought were close to us. He attacks through a constant stream of depressing news on the television and in the newspaper. He attacks by showing us things we should not or cannot have, and urges us to do whatever it takes to get them even if it bankrupts us, breaks the law, hurts our loved ones, or offends God. When Satan catches us asleep in the dark, he immediately tries to destroy our happiness and our future with any means at his disposal.

This is why Paul urges us to wake up. This is why he tells us to look at what we are thinking and saying and doing in the light of God’s truth, and abandon deeds of darkness. God’s light is coming, and there is no escaping the truths it will reveal. Jesus said, There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs (Luke 12:2-3). When the Lord returns, all darkness will be banished by His glorious light, every evil thing starkly revealed in all its ugliness. Paul says, our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed—every day brings you one day closer to the moment when everything you have done in darkness will be revealed by the brilliant dawn of Christ’s return.

God does not want us to live apart from Him. He sent His Son Jesus to suffer death for our sins so that we could be returned to His loving arms, no longer cast out alone in the darkness of our sins. Nor does God want us to live under the dark delusions of sin; the Holy Spirit caused the Bible to be written for us, so that we could know what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2). And the Lord does not want us to be lost in the dark on our own, vulnerable to Satan’s attack—that’s why He compares us to wandering sheep and Himself to the Good Shepherd who gives everything to protect His flock, as we read in the Gospel of John chapter 10: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Paul’s instructions to us are these: wake up from your slumber…Let us behave decently, as in the daytime…clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. First of all, you need to wake up. Satan cannot sneak up on us so easily if we are alert. When you try to wake up while it is still dark, it is important to get the lights on; in order to be spiritually alert, you need to fill your life with God’s light. You can increase the amount of His light in your life by praying to Him more often and attending worship with greater frequency. The closer you try to be to God, the brighter His light will shine in you and the harder it will be for Satan to catch you unawares.

Paul’s second instruction is that we behave as if we are living in God’s light. We should want to see the world as it truly is—imperfections and all. The truth is important, and we must be careful to never accept illusions as a substitute for reality. The reality of the world is this: because of sin, everyone and everything is imperfect. Sooner or later, everyone and everything in our lives will disappoint us, maybe even hurt us. By the light of Christ, we can see in the mirror of God’s Law that we too are far from perfect, and that we too are responsible for bringing grief and pain into our lives and the lives of others. But seeing this truth is a blessing. When we see the many ways in which we are causing hurt by our sins, we are moved to turn to Jesus for His mercy and His wisdom. We learn to forgive others for being imperfect because we are imperfect too, and are only made lovable by Christ’s willingness to forgive us. It is God’s written word that enables us to see things as they really are; you can be better prepared to see through the delusions of this dark world by increasing the amount of time you spend studying the Bible.

Paul’s final instruction is to clothe ourselves in Christ. He wants us to be so close to the Savior that we are in constant contact with Him every minute of our lives. He is like a suit of armor for us, protecting us from the devil’s attacks. By being clothed in Christ, we are wrapped in His holiness, a holiness that covers up our sinfulness and makes us acceptable to stand before God. By being clothed in Christ, we are constantly in touch with our Lord, constantly reassured and warmed by His loving presence, never alone. We gained this garment of salvation when we were baptized, and Christ shares His righteousness with us again every time we come to Him humbly asking to be forgiven.

So, do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Thinking about sinful things is a poor investment of time and energy; remember that spending time in darkness leaves us feeling alone, confused about what is true, and vulnerable to the devil’s attacks. Furthermore, sin is not permitted in heaven, so the time and energy that we devote to sin is time and energy that leads us away from an eternal home in paradise. Instead, let us put aside the deeds of darkness. Let us behave decently, trying to obey God’s Law and seeking Jesus’ mercy when we fail. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; today you are one day closer to meeting the Lord face to face, to give an account of yourself to God. Will you slumber in darkness, or will you wake up and welcome the coming Light from heaven?

Are you a pack rat?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19).

Increasingly, homes are being built with three car garages—and yet you still see cars parked outside, because those garages are often filled with other stuff. Many people try to solve the problem of garage clutter by purchasing a utility shed—or maybe two. But clutter is not restricted to garages. There are many products available to help organize your closets and kitchen drawers. There are containers designed to store things under your bed. And if you get really desperate for space, there are companies that will rent you a compartment in a secured facility.

This last option amazes me. I can see the need for a storage facility if you are in the process of moving or are doing major remodeling on your home. But some people use these services to store things that are out of season, or that they don’t have room for but don’t want to get rid of. My friend, if you have possessions that are gathering dust or are buried deep in a pile somewhere, you don’t need them—you’ve got too much stuff!

God gives us property to use for the good of others and to enjoy ourselves. If you own things that do neither, they are unnecessary. You need a place to sleep and eat and maintain good hygiene. You don’t need more bedrooms than you have people living in the home. You need enough clothes so that you don’t end up doing laundry every couple of days, wasting water on partial loads. You don’t need so many outfits that one closet is unable to hold them all. You need transportation for work, shopping, and going to church. You don’t need more vehicles than you have drivers in the home, and you could probably share rides with just a little planning. Art is meant to be appreciated; what good are paintings or decorative antiques that are stored away in the attic because there is no place to display them? A home theater system with a vast collection of CDs and DVDs is certainly impressive, but what good are they if you have no time to watch or listen?

Money spent on extravagances would be better off put into savings, used to support the church, or donated to a worthy charity. Our Lord expects us to use His gifts responsibly; hoarding things like a pack rat ties up resources that could be used in more beneficial ways. Take a look through your closets, attic and garage; what are you hanging on to that could be put to better use by someone else?

Blood

The law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22).

People are afraid of blood. Some parents lose it when their child gets a scraped knee or cuts a finger. Some teenagers love scary movies but cover their eyes when fake blood fills the screen. Fear of blood-borne diseases has many people treating blood like a pathogen, wearing gloves and throwing bloody clothes away instead of washing them. Some people get queasy at just the mention of blood.

And yet blood is at the heart of Christianity. Christianity is the religion of forgiveness, and forgiveness is only made possible by blood. In the Old Testament, God forbade His people from drinking blood, giving the following reason: the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life (Leviticus 7:11). Sin demands the death sentence; but in His mercy, God accepted the blood of animals as payment for human sin.

This was, however, only a limited solution to a much bigger problem. Every human being sins over and over again; not a day goes by that we do not break God’s laws and invite His wrath. Countless animals offered up their lives to pay for human sin, but the need for additional sacrifices only grew larger. Thankfully, in Jesus Christ God provided a permanent solution, a final sacrifice that would atone for all human sin throughout the ages. God’s own Son would offer His blood in place of ours, freeing us forever from the guilt of our wrongdoing. John writes, the blood of Jesus…purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

The cross is an ugly, bloody thing, but that blood is beautiful when you realize the great good it does us. In his vision of heaven, John relates the following: there before me was a great multitude that no one could count…They were wearing white robes…These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation chapter seven). If you have ever tried to wash out a bloodstain, you must be shaking your head at the thought that blood could make anything white. But Jesus’ blood washes us clean of sin, gives us His purity, and makes us fit for a place in heaven. His blood is nothing to be feared; it the greatest blessing you will ever receive.

God's undeserved mercy

"You have said, `It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.' "

Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.

"They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not (Malachi 3:14-18).

Through the prophet Malachi, God expresses His anger at the Israelites for their many sins. In chapter one, He confronts His people about their half-hearted commitment to worship and the cheapness of the offerings that they brought to God’s house. In chapter two, the Lord criticizes them for sampling the teachings of false religions instead of studying the Scriptures and for their willingness to treat divorce as something acceptable. Then in chapter three, God turns to the issue of human complaining: "You have said, `It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.' "

I have a hunch that at some point in your life, you have voiced this same complaint. What is the point of serving God? I have given up all sorts of things for Him. I could have slept in on Sunday mornings. I could have watched football games instead of sitting in church meetings. I could have more money saved up or invested if I hadn’t put it in the collection plate. I could have avoided the humiliation of having to say that I was sorry when I could have lied and blamed what I did on someone else. I could have slept around instead of saving sex for after the start of marriage. I could have had so much more fun with my friends if I hadn’t insisted on acting like a Christian. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?

And for all I have given up, done without, what have I gotten from God in return? How is my life any better than the lives of the unbelievers? Many unbelievers tell lie after lie, and they get elected to positions of political power. Many unbelievers are rich; they don’t let moral scruples interfere with doing business, and look at how they prosper! There are many who are Mormons or followers of Mohammed or who claim that there is no god at all, and their groups are growing while we Christians are constantly insulted and increasingly deprived of our religious rights. But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.

It’s true—the world is a frustrating place in which to live. But this does not mean that God is uncaring or that He is not in control. Remember Jesus’ words: You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:43-45). Good things happen to bad people because God loves them too. St. Peter tells us, The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). In Acts 17:27, Paul says that God desires that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. It is said that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar; the good Lord is generous in giving honey to unbelievers, hoping that by showing them His love they might come to love Him in return.

This kind of behavior on God’s part frustrates us sometimes. We would much rather that God show His terrible anger and bring swift justice than to be patient and generous with mercy. But thank heavens that God does not act on a short fuse! If God punished sin as quickly and severely as we sometimes think He should, what would be the consequence for us? Don’t we sin every day? Don’t we give in to the same sinful temptations over and over again, year after year? Do we not sometimes insist for days, weeks, or even longer, that we are in the right, when deep down inside we know that we’ve done wrong? Of course. And how terrible it would be for us if God were swift and merciless in punishing us for our sins!

But He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. That is why He sent His only Son into this sin-sick word. Jesus came to us in patient, generous love. It is true that we frustrate Him—at one point Jesus said, O unbelieving and perverse generation…how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? (Matthew 17:17) And yet immediately following this expression of frustration, Jesus showed His continuing love for us by healing a child. Jesus’ love for us is so great that it led Him to patiently endure the agony of the cross, that He could win for us freedom from the domination of sin, it’s burden of guilt, and it’s sentence of everlasting death. And Jesus generously offers His gift of salvation to everyone, asking only that we pledge ourselves to Him alone as our leader through life.

However, it is a sad reality that many, perhaps most, choose to ignore or reject Jesus. And while Jesus is patient, there is a time limit attached to His generous offer of undeserved mercy. God says, you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. That distinction will be made plain at the Day of Judgement. Jesus said, When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:31-32).

What will be the basis for making this distinction? In the revelation given him of the last day, St. John saw: each person was judged according to what he had done (Revelation 20:13). Jesus also speaks of this: a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear [the Son of Man’s] voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned (John 5:28-29).

Does this mean that Jesus will have some sort of scale before Him, where He puts all our sins on one side, all our good deeds on the other, and waits to see which way the scale tips? Absolutely not! If Jesus decided our eternal fate in this way, then we would all be bound for hell. Jesus summed God’s expectations for our behavior this way: `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38). If you look back on your life and compare how much of it has been totally dedicated to God and how much of it has been focused on yourself, you know that the scale must tip immediately towards damnation.

But Jesus will not evaluate our lives this way. When we ask Jesus to have mercy on us, the record of our sins is erased. In Isaiah 43:25 God says, I am he who blots out your transgressions…and remembers your sins no more. St. Peter urges, Repent…and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out (Acts 3:19). Paul speaks of baptism recreating us as newborn children, freed from the mistakes of the past: We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (Romans 6:2-4).

When Judgment Day comes and Jesus reviews every moment of our lives, there will be no record of any sin for those who believe in Him and seek His mercy; everything negative will be blotted out, wiped away. All that will remain is the record of our faith in Jesus, and no matter how little that record of faith is, it will be enough, because whoever believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:16). And because of that wonderful generosity of our Lord, we will hear His invitation: Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world (Matthew 25:34).

We must note that Jesus will not use a set of scales to evaluate the unbelievers either. When a person does not believe in Jesus, nothing that they do has any worth in God’s eyes. Paul warns, those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God (Romans 8:8). When unbelievers stand before the Throne of Judgment there will be nothing from their lives that can be used to back up a plea for Jesus’ mercy, because without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Instead, all that Jesus will consider is a lifetime of selfishness, hatred, lust and dishonesty, and the sentence will be terrible: Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

Heaven and hell. Here is the ultimate distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. Those who are righteous, because Jesus has gifted them with forgiveness, will enjoy eternity in heaven. Those who served God during their brief years on earth will experience unending joy, complete relief from worry and pain and sorrow, and will never be lonely again—because they will be with every Christian who has ever lived. Best of all, they will see Jesus as He really is, and know the delight of living in perfect love. But the wicked, those who spurned Jesus and denied that they needed His mercy, will be plunged into everlasting hell. Those who did not serve God will experience unending fear and pain and despair, an eternal existence made all the more horrible because there will be no hope for relief, not the least bit of love or care from anyone; their only company will be the horrible screams of the damned.

Let us not complain about God’s patience and generosity. It is because of His love that He tells us, They will be mine…in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. We are blessed with the Lord’s lavish mercy; let us never begrudge His goodness to others. When the right time comes, you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

The value of sports

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training (1 Corinthians 9:25).

There are two types of sports; some involve teamwork, while others focus on individual competition. Both types of sports teach important skills. Games like football, baseball and volleyball emphasize the need for good communication and the ability to work together. Cooperative play also teaches the value of diversity; people with different skills are needed to fill the various positions on the team. As a teammate, you do not face things alone; when training is hard or a game is lost, the members of a team are there to encourage and comfort each other.

Individual competition has its benefits as well. Whether it be golf, tennis, or chess, such competitions teach the importance of self-reliance. When you compete alone, there is no one to pick up the slack for you; you must know what you are doing and be fully committed to giving it your best. You have to be well rounded, able to execute every move of your chosen sport. And individual competition teaches you to be flexible, able to adapt quickly to any situation that arises since there is no one else to back you up.

The lessons taught by such sports are valuable to the Christian. Following Christ is not always easy; we need the skills of both a team player and a solo athlete.

Christians need to be team players. We need to embrace diversity; Paul says that the Church is like the human body, a group of different parts that need each other in order to survive and be effective (1 Corinthians chapter 12). Christians need to communicate with each other, offering encouragement in times of stress and giving comfort when tragedy strikes. And we need to hold each other accountable for the times when we sin, because it is easy to kid ourselves into thinking that such behavior is no big deal.

But belonging to a church does not get you into paradise. God does not issue team passes for a place in heaven. Salvation is offered on an individual basis; it rests on your relationship with the Son of God. So it is important to know the Savior—who He is and what He says to you. It is important to take personal responsibility for your sins instead of trying to blame someone else for your shortcomings. The church exists to help you in your Christian walk, but in the end salvation is a personal issue between Christ and you.

God and election results

"There is hope for your future," declares the LORD (Jeremiah 31:17).

The elections are over. How satisfied are you with the results? Did the people you supported get elected, or were they defeated? Did a majority of voters agree with you on the various ballot measures? Are you happy or disgusted?

The people who won will now say that it is time for us to set aside our differences and work together for the sake of the future. And I agree. But how is that even remotely possible? With all the negative campaigning, all the lies, all the words of hatred and fear mongering, how can America find peace through unity?

Jesus gave us the answer 2,000 years ago on the cross—He said, Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing (Luke 23:34). The Son of God suffered and died for one reason—to forgive our sins so we can be united in love. And He calls on us to follow His example—Jesus said, Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7). Paul wrote, Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13).

Forgiveness is essential in order for relationships to have a future. Forgiveness leads to reconciliation. And forgiveness is what this country needs to heal the wounds of a divisive election. Most candidates and their supporters have told lies and warped the truth in order to get elected. It is time for every person who is guilty to ask Jesus to forgive them. Then, bolstered with God’s love, they need to reach out and apologize to those they hurt. The more this happens, the quicker our political wounds can start to heal.

The worst part of these past months has been the fear mongering—the thought that if voters got it wrong, America is doomed. I’d like to remind you of something quite important—your votes can’t wreck the future. The results of this election can’t wreck the future. Regardless of what we do, God is in control. He is infinitely wise, infinitely loving, and infinitely powerful. There is no mess we can make that He cannot clean up. So if you are concerned with this year’s election results, pray to God and entrust the future to Him.