This election season, I find it
both saddening and amusing that some of my Christian friends in Facebook are more
passionate in promoting their candidates than they’ve ever done with Christ. While they share dozens of posts endorsing
their candidates (or discrediting his or her opponents) each day, they have rarely or not at all shared Scripture or
posts glorifying Jesus Christ. They
actively engage in debate against others who support the opposing candidates,
and yet, when it comes to urging others to believe in Christ, they shy away
from it. It’s as if having their candidates win the election is the most important thing for them.
There’s nothing wrong with
desiring a better government and supporting a candidate. But here’s a friendly reminder: we Christians
shouldn’t lose perspective! Our earthly citizenship and what comes with
it – suffrage, politics, patriotism, etc. – is far secondary to our pursuit of the
matters relating to our heavenly citizenship.
I’ve already written about this during the past election season (2013), but let me reiterate: let’s not put our hope
in this election and our candidates. The
2016 presidential election, governments, and this world in general are
fleeting. Thus, we must invest our hope and heart on the Sovereign God who not only
holds our present and future, but Eternity as well.
The outcome of the election, as
every detail of history, is ordained by God’s sovereignty. For it is God who places the authorities over
us (Daniel 2:21, 4:32; John 19:11; Romans 13:1); and all rulers, governments,
and Creation are under His supremacy (Psalm 22:28, 2 Chronicles 20:6, Psalm
103:19, Proverbs 21:1). Thus, if we believe
this, even if the “wrong” candidate won, we’ll be able to submit to his or her office,
as we’ve been called to do (1 Peter 2:13, Romans 13:2-5), and trust that God has
something good in store for us (Romans 8:28).
This “good” may not be fully realized in this world, but then again, our
hope is found in Eternity. Our joy and hope
aren’t reliant on the result of this election.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not at all saying that we Christians
should be apathetic about voting. Not at
all. Proper
belief and trust in God’s sovereignty don’t at all result to laziness, indifference,
and passiveness. Though we are “exiles” and
“aliens” of this world, we aren’t instructed to withdraw from it. On the contrary, we are called to engage with it – to seek the betterment of
the place we are exiled in, i.e. the world (Jeremiah 29:7), and be its salt and
light (Matthew 5:13-16). And that
includes making an effort in choosing our leaders. My point is, though we should do our best fulfilling our duties as
voters, we must not treat the election as an ultimate end. Important as it may seem to be, it’s still a momentary
matter – relatively insignificant to the eternal scheme of things. Hence, again, it means we don’t make our hope
and joy dependent on the election, the candidates, the outcome, and the
government.
So let’s love our country and yearn
for its welfare and improvement. Put effort
on choosing who to vote for president. Research.
Think.
Think harder. Pray. And on May 9, let’s do our duty as citizens. Let’s vote.
However, let not our hope be in these things. If who we voted for wins, then good. If the Philippines become a better place to
live in as a result of this election, then good. But even if these won’t be the case, we have
ample reason to rejoice. For regardless
of what happens to our earthly state, including of those related to being Filipino
citizens, our Great King – who owns our full, undivided allegiance – has
provided us a Glorious Hope to look forward to while we’re waiting for our call Home.
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