Someone recently sent us a photo on Facebook of a marquee that read:

               “AMERICA, THE DONKEY AND ELEPHANT WON’T HELP. 

                  WE MUST TURN BACK TO THE LAMB!” 

     There’s some good theology there!  We may be encouraged by the direction the new Trump administration is taking our country, but “the kingdom of God is not going to be ushered in on Air Force One !” No president, no matter whether he is a conservative republican (elephant) or a liberal democrat (donkey) is going to fix the problems in terms of what ails America. Our problem is spiritual, not political. That’s why, in last week’s “Wisdom of the Week, ” I challenged you to pray for our new president and his administrative team to make wise, godly decisions for our country in order that “the church can do its work.”  We pray for our leaders so that we believers can live out our faith in a way that is unhindered and unrestrained by the government (I Tim. 2:1-4).  As Christians, we should pray for our leaders so that the government will leave us alone to live the Christian life, which includes evangelism and discipleship. 

      Just remember, we can’t be saved by a “donkey” or an “elephant,” but only by a “lamb”–“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29).  All the issues our nation faces (whether it is increased crime and violence, sexual perversions, confusion over gender or the institution of marriage or…) are really spiritual, not political problems and can ultimately only be solved by changed hearts and only God can do that. Basically, every problem is a spiritual problem and no amount of education or political reform can deal with the heart of the problem, which is the problem of the heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says: “Thus says the LORD, ‘cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength…Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD.  For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit. The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately (incurably) sick. Who can understand it?’ ” 

     So, I am greatly encouraged by the changes being made and the direction President Trump and his team are headed and our prayers are that through this change, God creates an atmosphere in which we have open doors to spread the Gospel, for it alone has the power to change lives (Ro. 1:16).  The great need for us, whatever culture or country we live in, is to be salt and light so that people can come to know Christ (Mt. 5:13-16). So, we need to pray not only for our leaders, but also for ourselves that we would be His ambassadors, helping others to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ (II Cor. 5:18-20). When people are reconciled to God by faith in Jesus Christ, they become new creatures in Him and the old passes away and the new comes(II Cor. 5:17).  They begin seeing things from God’s perspective and have a whole new worldview–one based on the truths of God’s Word.  As lives are transformed, culture changes and God can truly “bless our nation.”  

    We have needed more “common sense” in the role of leadership and it appears we are headed in that direction–Praise the Lord!  But, guess where “common sense” comes from. It comes from seeing things as they truly are, that is, how God made them. So, common sense comes from following the truths and principles of God’s Word.  When a life is transformed by the power of the Good News about Jesus dying for our sins and rising again, we start developing a life based on truth and make wise decisions based on that foundation. 

     So, while we see positive signs of change in the right direction, remember that our hope is in the Lamb, not a donkey or an elephant!  Our hope is in the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, the One who gave His life to redeem us from sin and to give us a whole new life. I like the lyrics of the song by Daniel Gardiner: “My Life Is In You Lord.”

                      “My life is in You, Lord

                       My strength is in You, Lord

                       My hope is in You, Lord

                       In You, it’s in You.

                       I will praise You with all of my life

                       I will praise You with all of my strength

                       With all of my life

                       With all of my strength

                       All of my hope is in You.”

Amen!

Forever His, Pastor Dave N