IF THE WRONG CANDIDATE GETS ELECTED

by CharlesRobey
(Trussville, AL USA)

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His:
21 And He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for Thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. (Daniel 2:19-23)

When the 2016 presidential election becomes history, which political party will be elected? Realizing it is our civic duty to vote, and also realizing it is our Christian duty to vote according to God's principles, we should be sure to study the political agendas of both major candidates, then vote according to God's principles, as best we can determine.

Now, what if a particular candidate becomes president who has a history of not adhering to God's principles? By history and by the Bible's protocol, we see God allowing both godly and ungodly leaders to come to power. Why the ungodly, you may ask? There again, according to the scripture, when this occurs, it is a part of God's overall plan for the future. (Isaiah 46:9-11) It’s a plan to punish a people for their wrong-doing; or it is a planned judgment on a people or nation for their obvious sins. Both of these causes come under God's sovereignty.

So, let us pause here, and take a look at what we mean by His "Sovereignty" (according to theopedia.com)

The Sovereignty of God is the Biblical teaching that all things are under God's rule and control, and that nothing happens without His direction or permission. God works not just some things but all things according to the counsel of His own will (see Eph. 1:11). His purposes are all-inclusive and never thwarted (see Isa. 46:11); nothing takes Him by surprise. The sovereignty of God is not merely that God has the power and right to govern all things, but that He does so, always and without exception. In other words, God is not merely sovereign de jure (in principle), but sovereign de facto (in practice).

Why we mortals cannot understand God's sovereignty at work, especially in elections, is because we simply cannot know the future. God has always known and controlled the future according to His divine will for the ultimate good of a people, or nation (Isaiah 14:24). So if God places the ungodly in power, it is to affect His will down the road. (Job 42:2), place judgment on a society for collective sins, or to show His final power in any given situation. (Psalm 102:25-27)

Although as God has likely already proposed America's next leaders (Job 23:13), we still have His firm word in (2 Chronicles 7:14), for our hope and future. If we, His people, will become humble, pray and seek His face, He will hear us and heal our land. There again, as He is all knowing, He already knows whether we (His people) will take this scripture at heart. (Proverbs 19:21) And His future plans include our positive or negative response to this scripture.(Psalm 33:10-11)

However, contrary to our human happenings or thinking, God can change a candidate, regardless of their life style, and their health. This is called forgiveness, and redemption.

In conclusion, very simply, what this commentary means is that God is dependable. Our trust in Him is therefore a confident trust, for we know that He will not; indeed He cannot change. (Malachi 3:6) His purposes are unfailing, and his promises unassailable. It is because the God who promised us eternal life (John 3:16) is immutable that we may rest assured that nothing, not trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword, shall separate us from the love of Christ. It is because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) that neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not even powers, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Author's Postscript:

This old universe is definitely ripe for change. Everywhere you turn, be it in the news media, be it in the public squares, be it in the gossip circles, or even in the churches, the basic outcry is for help.

What has generated this change of demographics, or this change in this specific segment of our a population having shared characteristics? Could it be a psychology of apathy? Or, maybe it’s self-centeredness or a greedy mindset? Will any particular change of mankind's leadership make a different in this attitude of the populace? No, not unless the populace makes their plea to God for revival (Psalm 85:6), and listen to God (Psalm 85:8). In other words, not unless we do right by God. (2 Chronicles 34:2)

Indeed, God is ready and waiting, if we will turn to Him, in all of our public and private decisions, according to His purpose (Psalm 5:13).