If You Don't Know Who to Vote For

This is the year of elections. The presidential candidates are getting a lot of publicity, and each one, of course, requests your vote.

With all the coverage the candidates receive in the media, voters should be more knowledgeable today than ever. Unfortunately, the cameras are not always helpful. Sometimes the more we see and hear, the less we really understand.

But before I go further, I want you to know this is not a promotion for a particular party or candidate. Nor is it a voter drive. I am not telling you who to vote for, nor even that you ought to vote.

The last number of years, I have been impressed with the dilemma of the public in finding men suited for public office. Repeatedly, I have heard people complain that voting is a problem of deciding between the lesser of two bad choices. It is this dilemma I wish to discuss.

In a democratic society, where leaders are chosen from the populace, the quality of the general public has a direct bearing on the quality of the leaders chosen. The people beget their own leaders in ways beyond the physical.

Obviously, then, the more commonly people in America practice fraud, immorality, selfishness, abuse, greed, and other forms of corruption, the more difficulty they will have at election time. If you have a basket of rotting apples, the longer you let the spoilage go, the less likelihood there is of pulling out a good apple.

That brings me to my basic concern: There is moral and spiritual spoilage in America.

Compare American culture in general with these directions from God's Word:

"Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth" (Malachi 2:15).

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Exodus 20:16).

"Honour thy father and thy mother" (Exodus 20:12).

"Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!" (Isaiah 5:11).

"Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition" (1 Timothy 6:9).

"I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array" (1 Timothy 2:8, 9).

Now that you have thought about others, think about your own life. What is the moral and spiritual fiber of your soul?

Underneath the moral problems in America is the root of sin. You cannot deal adequately with the unfaithfulness in your heart, the lust, the covetousness, and the pride, until you are willing to call it sin and accept God's provision for cleansing.

Politicians will be no better than those who elect them.

All of us have sinned. And all our sin is against a holy God. God gave His Son Jesus to die for our sin, so that if we humble ourselves before Him and place our trust in Jesus as a sacrifice for us, we can be forgiven.

If You Already Are a Christian

Increasingly, people with religious interests have entered politics. This mixture of church and state has been heralded by some as good news for God's people. To preserve our society, the logic goes, Christians must get into the political workings.

I disagree.

The New Testament clearly teaches that the Christian's calling is not a political one but a spiritual one. To Pilate, Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight" (John 18:36).

While it would appear that Christians could influence their nation for good through political involvement, there are other ways that are actually more effective.

Christians must pray.

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Timothy 2:1, 2).

We are not blindly to expect God to work all things out "according to His will." Desiring His will to be done, we must bring the issues, the leaders -- yes, even the candidates -- to the Lord in earnest prayer.

Prayer is not some magical formula that gets us what we want. It is a working in cooperation with the One whose plans extend beyond this present time and beyond this present election. It is a working with the Most High who "ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (Daniel 4:17).

We must live holy lives.

The moral problems in America are not the result of weak leaders. They are not the result of wicked people. The moral problems in America are the result of a backslidden Christianity. Nothing so destroys the moral fiber of a nation as does worldliness among professing Christians.

Among Christians, then, what we need in an election year is not voter drives. We need prayer meetings, and we need men and women whose lives openly honor God.

If You Want A Changed Life

LET GO

Of Your Pride -- Humble Yourself:

"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

Of Your Sin -- Confess to God:

"Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously" (Hosea 14:2).

Of Yourself -- Change Masters:

"Then said Jesus . . . , If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).

Of the World -- Yield Your Desires:

"Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).

LET GOD

Give You Salvation:

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9).

Give You a New Heart:

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).

Give You a New Life:

"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of righteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans 6:13).