REACTING TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Everyone I've talked to this week has a reaction to Tuesday's election.  The election was a great way to express one's opinion about the way the nation is run.  About half of the voters thought President Obama earned 4 more years to try to bring about the "change" he talked about in 2008.  The other half wanted a change in leadership.  They preferred a successful, experienced businessman who understands the economy and has run various large organizations.

The responses after Tuesday were predictable.  President's supporters were joyful.  The supporters of Gov. Romney were crushed.  They felt he was the last hope to keep us from rushing over the "cliff" into disaster which so many advisors are predicting.  Many are now making plans to protect themselves and their families from the coming disaster. 

Here are some thoughts for those who are believers:
1. An old hymn says something like this, "This is not our home, we are just passing through".  I Peter 2:11 says, "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires."  Throughout Peter's letter believers are referred to as "strangers".  Hebrews 11:13 has the same idea. Our real citizenship is not here, but in heaven. (Philippians 3:20).  This world should seem strange to believers because we are strangers here.  So, we should not be surprised at decisions that people make that seem unreasonable.  I remember the day not long ago when the Federal Government reversed the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.  At the same time, the ban on beastiality was also lifted.  I never felt more like a "stranger" in my life. Peter's words were never more real.
2. Involving oneself in political efforts to which we are committed is admirable.  But, to bring others into the new citizenship of heaven is to be our primary activity.  As much as we love to involve ourselves in the things of this world, we need to heed Paul's advice, "As we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body".  Our earthly citizenship is only temporary.  Our heavenly citizenship is eternal.