Rebekah Holt
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God Is In Control--Even In Politics
God is in Control—Even in Politics
… the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men. Daniel 4:17
Since working as a representative for a State Senator, I have become increasingly aware of the dynamic responsibilities and powers of government. It’s sobering. Such experience has only caused me to be more aware of the need for Christian men and women to put shoe-leather to lip service.
It’s not enough to identify the problem or a threat. The real acid test to our effectiveness in our nation as a Christian culture is what we do with the insight and wisdom God does provide. Once we identify the symptom, are we willing to seek, develop, implement and enforce the cure?
Asking myself these questions and seeking what I can do as just one woman has brought me again to rehearse the foundation of my identity as a Christian, to delve in God’s Word and to renew myself in His purpose of mankind in this life.
As a constituent, I am inclined to “keep one’s nose clean” and just live a happy life tucked away. Politics is a hassle for the common man. It’s a lot of work to stay informed and life is very full with enough trouble on the home front—so it seems. As a Christian, I often feel “beat before I start” when I see the Goliath issues that threaten our nation, the constant fight required to combat evil and the snarling realities of people that are in opposition to a Biblical worldview of current events. Yet, as a patriot, I love my country, state, community and home. I desire that as a Christian, Biblical Conservative and Texan, God would continue to “preserve us a nation.”
Yet—despite a real relationship with Christ, I grow alarmed! Fearful, afraid of the future. I grow discouraged! Weary, saddened by the weight of issues that constantly threaten Christian liberties in America. I can even worry, even though the Bible tells us not to worry! How can we make a change? What can I do? Even safety for my own life becomes a reality working in the public. “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”(Ps. 75:26)
Can any of you identify? I’m sure there are many.
The Word of God is a haven. I run to it often—daily—and praise the Lord for the Christians that have carried the torch before us.
How timely to read a historic overview of what it took to be able to read God’s Word in my own language. Starting with the 1300s, the history of English translations of the Bible is an example of Christians taking action. This was an era where there was a need for reform. Wicked men sought to suppress and control access to the truth. Does that sound familiar?
Men and women were under vigorous persecution for merely translating a written book—a Living Word—in a language. Really??? This project was only for the good of the people. Their work hurt no one and yet, these Christians were pushed aside, treated as criminals and persecuted. The “establishment church” was their greatest enemy—the very people that should have been in support of this project! It was a God given work for Wycliffe in the 1300s, Tyndale in the 1500s and all the men and women behind the scenes. God assigned them work to do—this was their appointed lot. It was God’s will. Regardless of even God’s assignment, this Christian work met with tremendous resistance, governmental corruption, deep persecution, loss of physical life and constant set back. Despite all that—God’s will prevailed. These Christians remained faithful, constant and sure. Over the course of hundreds of years, those obedient Christian men and women’s work did not return void. Their work has given life, led many to Christ and to this day, I am just one of many that are still benefiting from what they did hundreds of years ago.
The translations happened—yet with a cost. It was an arduous climb of diligent effort that spanned several generations of passing the torch until the work was accomplished.
There was even a governmental shift. After the martyrdom of Tyndale, just a few years later, the English government issued official licenses for the Coverdale and Matthew Bibles. God used a wicked, immoral leader, Henry VIII to order English translated Bibles to be installed in every church. The Geneva Bible came from English scholars and translators fleeing to Geneva due the persecution of a Queen Mary. Then King James approved a petition for what we call today the King James Version in 1611.
Enter 2016 A.D. God has not changed. He’s still the same in every detail as He was when He created the universe.
He’s the same God that used men like the Pharaoh of Egypt.
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him…And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.” (Exodus 9:12, 16)
He’s the same God that used Cyrus to further His work:
“… the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1: 1-3)
Today, He is capable of using even the leadership to His means:
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” (Romans 13:1)
There is always a solution for the seeking Christian and here are five things the Lord reminded me of:
1# God is in control. “For the kingdom is the Lord's: and he is the governor among the nations.” (Ps. 22:28) “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.” (Is. 40:15)
2# Civil Government was God’s idea. “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.” (Daniel 2:21) “… the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.” (Daniel 4:17)
3# God can use unrighteous men for righteous means (Read Habakkuk 1:1-11). “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” (Ps. 75:7) “The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.” (Pr. 16:4)
4# When Civil government is in conflict with the Bible, my allegiance is first to Christ. “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)
5# My job is to seek God. He has preplanned the work I personally am to accomplish. I do not have to be overwhelmed. God gives my assignment and will provide all that is needed to accomplish it. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt. 6:33) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”(Eph. 2:10)“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8)For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
God is in control—even in politics. However, we have a responsibility. In America, we can do something. We can start at a local level. We can stay faithful and steady. We can speak out. We can vote. We can write to our legislatures. We can be good citizens, neighbors, constituents. We can hold our elected officials accountable. Some could even run for public office.
Then on the other hand--we can also reject to be used effectively by the Lord. We can be lazy, apathetic or radical zealots that are ineffective and do more harm than good toward seeing a lasting change for good in our government.
Does our failure mean that God’s will is going to be thwarted? No! It means God will use someone else and we’ll miss out on the blessing of being His obedient instrument. The victory is the Lords—that is sure. Christ is coming again. This world is going to end. God’s throne will be established in the new Jerusalem. Bottom line, we can follow His path now, get on His bandwagon and stay focused on our work to accomplish while we prepare for an eternity with Him—or we can be left behind by our own choosing.
Beginning now, it starts on bended knee, seeking God’s face not just for understanding and wisdom but for His marching orders for our daily life. Let’s get to work—two hands on the plow.