A Choice Most of Us Are Unwilling to Make

Moses is an incredible forefather in the faith. Hebrews 11:25 states that Moses made a choice by faith that is counterculture to what it currently means to be an American. It says that Moses chose suffering with the people of God over the pleasures of sin. Some people are mistreated and can do nothing about it. But Moses actually chose this kind of suffering over the life of a prince in Egypt. It's almost unbelievable that someone would actually do this.

I am discovering that the key to this kind of choosing is the phrase "for a short time." The pleasures of this earth are momentary, but the joy of heaven is for eternity. "Then" is really bigger and greater than "now". I need to keep this in mind in my relationships, work, finances and so on. If I can do this by God's grace I could potentially be a little more like Moses and my Lord Jesus Christ.

THEN is bigger than now

We all know someone who was once devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. We find ourselves asking, "What happened to them?" The Apostle Paul had a similar experience with a servant of Christ named Demas. Demas was once living all out for the Lord. In 2 Timothy 4:9-10, Paul says that Demas fell in love with this present world. He got caught up in the now. He lost sight of then. Paul describes the world as this present age, the time we live in. It is easy to be caught in what we want now and what's happening to us now. I believe one of the things that will keep us on track with Christ is a good dose of the big picture. Christ is going to come back. There is a heaven. THEN is just simply bigger than now.

Submission and Slander

Titus 3:1-15 "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men."

I am taking Paul's advice to remind myself and those who are in the faith to be submissive and not to slander anyone, especially those in authority over us. When we find our authorities don't do as we would have them to do, we are often tempted to smear their name to make ourselves look better, wiser and kinder. Christians need to watch their words so that we do not make up things or exaggerate things to discredit those God has placed over us.

Higher Authority

Some people were happy with the election of the new president and some were distressed. No matter which side you fall on, God's Word says in 1 Timothy 1:1-7 that we should be praying for those in authority over us. The implications are great. We should pray for our bosses, teachers, civil leaders, pastors and anybody who has been given authority over us. Our temptation will be to gossip, slander and grumble, but this is not what glorifies God.

Surprisingly, Paul tells Timothy to pray so that Christians can be unhindered by authorities in the promotion of the gospel. Our mission, as Christians, is not the promotion of a party, but the cause of Christ. In light of this, the preferred environment for this is one that is hospitable to the gospel rather than hostile. We should pray for our authorities to give us the freedom to live godly lives and spread the message of truth about Jesus Christ.

Appeal to the highest authority for the greatest opportunity!

Ungodly Authorities

All authority is established by God. (Romans 13:1) BUT not every authority is godly. This is the witness of history and Scripture. Many of our forefathers in the faith lived under the authority of ungodly and evil men. Moses was under Pharaoh. Daniel was under Nebuchadnezzar. Peter had Nero. Many of the kings of Israel were unrighteous as well. God puts all authority in place.

The next President of the United States will be put in office by God. He may or may not be a godly authority. Daniel praised God under the authority of Nebuchadnezzar who had destroyed Jerusalem and taken him into exile with these words, "He (God) changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them."

Jesus reminded Pilate John 19:11 that "you would have no power (authority) over me if it were not given to you from above."

So, those who follow Christ have no reason to worry, stress or fear the future. Our God is in control even when our authorities are ungodly.

The Election

One day until the election. I am not really worried about whether or not the one I vote for ends up winning the election or not. The real ELECTION goes unseen. According to Romans 13:1, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." So whoever becomes the next president is the one God has put in place. God establishes all authority. Man rules, but God overrules. May God be glorified.