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This year has passed by quickly, and now the election is just a few days away.

For those who read this column, I’m sure you have noticed that I rarely talk about politics or social issues. Of course, I have my thoughts like everyone else, but to be honest, I avoid these controversial areas intentionally. My focus is more about the Lord and the Christian life.

Nonetheless, I believe we can agree that America needs leaders who are honest and who demonstrate the nature and character of God. We also realize the Almighty has given us a free will to have elections even if the winners are not his choice.

I’m sincerely grateful to live in a country that allows anyone to believe and express whatever they want, but it’s important to remember that for the most part, what we hear and read are only someone else’s ideas and perceptions.

Amid so many voices, it’s obvious that no human is wise enough to untangle the mess our world is in. With so much chaos and conflict, who could even understand it?

The arguments give me a headache and the resentment and hostility are beyond anything I have ever seen. Many are convinced they know what is right and wrong about everything, but what on what are they basing their views?

Much of what we believe comes from what we have been told, and one of the dangers of developing an opinion is not being sure if what we have heard is true. If our information is incorrect, our views are in error. For example, the popular term “uninformed voters” is a reality, and sadly, we are all in the same boat when it comes to only having bits and pieces of the big picture.

Only God can help us discern who is telling the truth and who is being deceptive. Spiritual rebellion opposes divine wisdom and human arrogance has created a world of distorted interpretations.

Psalm 118:8 cuts through the chase and gives us this blunt piece of advice, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”

With a dysfunctional political system, the dishonestly of many leaders and voters filled with contempt, we have a slim chance for peace.

As long as there are opinions there will always be strife and conflicts as even the early followers of Jesus argued over who he was and why he had come.

Today we see that political stress has lured many believers into anger and a subtle hatred that has caused a distance in their personal relationship with God. So, what can we do?

II Chronicles 7 reminds us of the critical need for repentance:“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Instead of trying to change everyone else, let’s ask God to help us become the person he has called us to be. It’s a good possibility that a portion of what we think is being interpreted through a lens that is dusty and out of focus. Have we considered embracing humility, setting aside our party bias and sincerely praying that God would reveal the individual for whom he wants us to vote? Can we agree that God knows who would be the best person for the job?

And what about unity? Well, with God being absolute truth, the solution to seeing eye to eye would be for everyone to listen and follow our Creator. This would allow us to be on his page with every subject and we would all be correct.

Opinions are relative to the individual, but truth is God’s universal standard of right and wrong.

I know this is a stretch for the imagination, but Jesus prayed in John 17 that all who believe in him would be one with God the same as he is one with his Father.

You see, spiritual unity is established on our love for God and all people, and the less love we have for others, the less unity we will experience. I Timothy 2:1-2 encourages us, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

 

Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com