Jesus is King Yesterday, Today, and Forever
By: Dan Seale
Today is election day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020. As I type, it is still dark outside. The sun has yet to rise on what many view as a defining moment in our nation. I don’t know what changes lie ahead for our country but of this I am certain, Jesus is King, yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. This is not just some trite Christian bumper sticker statement. This is bedrock, life changing, peace-inducing, courage producing truth. No person or events can derail God’s grand plan of redemption, therefore, we as believers need not fear, no matter the results of today’s election. This truth does not guarantee that life will go well or be easy for us as a nation now or in the future, but God’s grand plan of ushering in the new heavens and the new earth, the final restoration of this earth, cannot be stopped. In fact, as Christians, we are told to expect and be prepared for suffering as we follow Jesus in a world that is at odds with his kingdom purposes.
This is not an entirely unique moment in the history of the church or our nation. There have been heated elections that have divided followers of Jesus. In 1774 there was a nasty election in the English parliament that was so intense many feared the differences of opinion might split the newly formed Methodist Church. Pastor and leader, John Wesley said this to his people,
“October 6, 1774
I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election and advised them
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”
Wesley’s words encourage us to vote our conscience, guard our speech, and guard our heart from critically judging others. I would add one more piece of advice; no matter who wins, follow the Bible’s command to pray for our leaders.
1 Timothy 2:1-3
Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
If you are tempted to sharpen your spirit against someone who voted differently than you, consider these words from my friend and pastor Matt Adair:
“As politically diverse churches here in the States strain under the external pressure of the election, let’s remember that unity does not require having the same convictions. The glory of God can be displayed through a community who holds opposite convictions while maintaining their allegiance to King Jesus.”
Though we may vote differently, at Redeemer we are One in Christ. We are one body and we serve one Lord, one Savior, Christ the King.
No matter what happens in this election, we can still rejoice in the Lord. We can remember the powerful words of Habakkuk 3:17-19, where Habakkuk expresses his trust in the goodness and the promises of God in the face of difficult circumstances.
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
If Habakkuk can find joy in the Lord as he faced certain suffering and possible death, we can find joy and hope in the Lord whatever the election results. For we know and can rest in the truth that…
Jesus is King Yesterday.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Jesus is King Today.
I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Jesus is King Forever and Ever. Amen.
. . . and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.