Hope Deferred

We have been looking at the uselessness of political pragmatism; useless because it doesn’t work to borrow a phrase from Steve Deace. When we look at the political landscape it can indeed be discouraging. We hope for greater things for our nation and when that hope is diminished we tend to despair and become desperate. Oh but we should wait on Jesus!

    “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)

So the question that begs an answer is in what are we hoping?

Are we hoping that the Republicans will finally get their act together? That is an understandable yet very doubtful hope.

Are we hoping that the Church will finally get their act together? That also is an understandable yet even more doubtful hope.

Let me give you an example. In Indiana voters had a chance in the Republican Senate primary to vote for a strong pro-life candidate in Marlin Stutzman; he lost by 11% to the GOP choice former Senator Dan Coats. People have a myriad of opinions on why Stutzman lost, two among them being that he started too late and that the Tea Party Movement doesn’t really have any teeth.

Both theories are true; Stutzman did start too late and the Tea Party Movement’s bark is much louder than its bite. I know, you want to tar and feather me, but I can prove it. Many Tea Party members are registered independent voters which means they cannot vote in most states’ primaries; you must have a party affiliation to vote. However, in Indiana’s case even being registered to vote doesn’t mean victory because only 21%, here in case you can’t see that…

…only 21%…

…of registered voters actually took the time to vote. Shameful! And no doubt the number of registered Christians that actually voted was probably less. We have blasphemers who call themselves pastors across America telling their flock not to bother being involved in the political process because we are tired of voting for the lesser of two evils; we have such a pastor here in NW Florida. We have to vote for the lesser of two evils because nearly 80% of registered voters never bother trying to find the right candidate in the primaries.

Talk about hope deferred; more like hope defeated!

If we are going to be the salt and light Jesus calls us to be then beloved we must get out and vote for godly men and women to serve in office and we must bring as many Christians to the ballot box with us as possible.

It is tough being a Christian in America but according to polls we are the majority, over 80%. Now of course I do not believe that for a minute, however I do know that there are some 35 million biblical Christians and if they will “take right ground” as Charles Finney exhorted Christians in the 19th Century then we can be hopeful for our future as a nation.

As Christians we can be hopeful for our future because of our Messiah. The Apostle Peter writes:

    “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3-9)

We are kept by the power of God.

Let me try that again; it fell flat the first time.

WE ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD!!!!!!

Knowing this, can we the Body of Christ, can we American Christendom not make a difference in this culture? We know that we are counter-culture but we have always been from the day Jesus ascended to heaven and left His disciples and us with the Great Commission.

But can we not be culture changers?

If we shine Jesus wherever we go; if godly men take up their swords of the Spirit which is the Word of God that produces righteousness, can we not change our culture?

Oh would that become the desire of all our hearts! Oh and when that desire comes it will be a tree of life!!

Even so come Lord Jesus!

Have a very blessed weekend; I’m headed to Nevada this weekend; flying out today…please pray for my trip and don’t forget to go to church on Sunday.

See you on Tuesday!

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2010 David Jeffers

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