GOD'S POLITICS

GOD’S POLITICS


These are my thought's on politics originally from a guest post that I was asked to do for a leadership organization LCEF:


I love politics! I hate politics!  Where do you fall in the previous two statements?  Are you worn out from all the mudslinging? Glad the commercials and debates are over? How are you feeling now, post-election?  What song are you singing?  Is it: “It’s the end of the world as we know it...”  or is it “Celebration time, come on, let’s celebrate!”?  Maybe a better question is: what are the people you find around you singing?  
Something that has hit me like a ton of bricks is the truth from God’s word concerning politics.  God is concerned with our world, He’s not a distant once-was god but is an: everlasting, always will be, always has been, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, all powerful, with us GOD!  As surprised as you or I may have been or not been, God wasn’t surprised at the election results.  It didn’t shock Him, and He isn’t singing either of the above mentioned songs (in case you were wondering).  The strong reality hit me that when it comes to God’s politics, there are two things we have to understand and can never forget:

1.     GOD HOLDS ALL AUTHORITY & POWER!
2.     GOD GIVES AUTHORITY & POWER TO WHOMEVER HE CHOOSES!

It all belongs to HIM as Romans 13:1 explains!  It always has, and always will.  As simplistic as it sounds and as easy as it is to nod our heads, the reality is most of us forget this.  We somehow find ourselves wondering where God is and if He indeed knows what’s going on down here.  While in fact nothing escapes His sight, nothing escapes His mind; our God is still in charge and seated on the throne.  In fact, not only does our God hold all authority and power and it’s His to give to whomever He chooses, our God even uses pagan leaders to accomplish His purposes!  This great reminder is found through out the bible and specifically in the book of Daniel.  Chapters 4 & 5 lay out our Sovereign God’s power and authority to give and take away as He sees fit.  The book of Daniel begins with the taking away of power from Judah’s king, King Jehoiakim, and handing it to the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.  It continues with the story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and arrogance foretold in a dream interpreted by Daniel in chapter 4.  Nebuchadnezzar thought that all the power and authority belonged to him and that he was the “rainmaker” that made it all happen, failing to acknowledge that God holds all power and authority and gives it to whomever He chooses. Because of this God caused King Nebuchadnezzar to become as a beast in the field, to act like an ox eating grass. He grew hair long like an eagle’s feathers and his nails grew like claws of a bird, we are told.  King Nebuchadnezzar was humbled for “seven periods of time” until he recognized it was God who gave him his power and authority and all that he had. God restored King Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity as well as his honor and splendor; his throne was also restored, and he became even greater than he had been. As he acknowledged God as the One holding all power and authority, he said:
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
As amazing as that story of Nebuchadnezzar and God’s power and authority and ability to give it to whoever He chooses is, it is followed by another reminder of this fact in Daniel 5.  One would think that the son of King Nebuchadnezzar would never forget what happened to his father and follow in the confession that his father made.  But King Belshazzar, whom God allowed to be in power and gave authority, forgets the fact that God can give and take it away at His will.  King Belshazzar learned a tough lesson. If you have forgotten this story take a moment and be reminded that the hand of God is always and forever in control.  
May these reminders allow us to rest easy knowing that our God is at work, and He is the One that holds all the power and authority; it’s His to give to whomever He chooses.  Our God does have politics.  God’s politics are not like ours. Our God can use anyone to accomplish His purpose, even a pagan king.  May we most importantly always remember our hope is in the Lord and Him alone. Jesus is the only hope of the world!


I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18