Fight the good fight

[Jenn and I apologize for not blogging much last week. We were both very busy bees with work, retreats, and homecomings. That will not be the norm, so we hope you keep coming back to check on the blog.]

With my favorite black, wool, jcrew coat on and coffee mug in hand, I walked down F Street listening to the clicking sound of my heels hitting the concrete. I was excited, feeling particularly upbeat this morning, but the second I stepped into the Smith Center, where the huge red print sign said, "VOTE," I got very nervous. My heart was pounding within the confines of my chest. It was as if a giant ocean wave came crashing down upon me, as I realized that today, in just a few hours, the fate of America, and really the world, for the next four years would be determined. I was terrified.

So, I cast my vote and began my walk home--praying as hard as I could. "God, be kind to us. Please put the right man in the presidency. Have mercy on us. Thy will be done!"

The truth is that we know God is sovereign. We know He is in control. The scary thing is that we also know He chooses to let us destroy ourselves at times. The Old Testament is full of stories where we can witness that. But regardless of all of that, we have one charge as believers--and it's completely independent of today, election day, that is.

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen." - 1 Timothy 6:12-17

No matter who is elected today and what that means for our country for the next four years, we need to focus on fighting the good fight of faith. We need to live for Jesus Christ, in light of His return. What I love about this passage, is not only does it remind us what we are here to do, it ends with reminding us that God is the ONLY Ruler, the ultimate King and Lord.

To paraphrase Michael Craven (Center for Christ & Culture) , today we cast our votes and tomorrow–regardless of who is elected–let us return once again to what truly matters; the higher calling of Christ.