Unmovable in Our Hope

The last couple of days I’ve been asked if I am happy about the outcome of the midterm elections. My response has been two-fold: it is a time of great hope, however I am cautiously confident. I can tell by some of the facial expressions that some are confused by my response. Let me explain.

I am very grateful to God that we have a Republican Party majority in Congress. As a voter, I align myself with the Republican Party platform. The platform stands for biblical principles. As my good friend Steve Deace is wont to say, “If Republicans would just govern by their platform, they would stay in power forever.”

However, many of the Republican Party leadership do just the opposite. They bristle at the prospect of standing on biblical principles: hence my cautious confidence. This cautiousness does not equal hopelessness. My hope is ever abounding. Why?

As the great old hymn declares, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and righteousness.” While political victories are wonderful, they are still temporal. Our final victory is that we have a Savior named Jesus Christ and He has overcome death. Reminding the Corinthians of this fact, the Apostle Paul wrote:

    “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

If I were to concentrate on earthly victories, then my hope would wane. I have to confess that when I focus only on the temporal, my hope wavers. That is because as I look around the state of our union, I see defeat in many areas. I can lament the loss of liberty and the destruction of our republic if I forget who really is in charge. My liberty is not found in the US Constitution; it is found in Christ Jesus:

    “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)

The first principles upon which our nation was founded are not Republican principles; they are biblical. The republican form of government, also known as federalism, is biblical in nature. Therefore all we do as Christian citizens should be for the furtherance of the gospel and the glory of God. That was the purpose of the founding of our original thirteen colonies. I’m convinced they were reminded of this by Paul’s exhortation to the Philippian church:

    “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27)

As a Christian I must remember that my citizenship here on earth is only temporary. I am a sojourner in this world, awaiting entry into my eternal home. That is where I place my faith and hope. Referring to 1 Corinthians 15:58, Matthew Henry wrote:

    “In verse 58, we have an exhortation, that believers should be steadfast, firm in the faith of that gospel which the apostle preached and they received. Also, believers must be unmovable in their hope and expectation of this great privilege, of being raised incorruptible and immortal.”

Tomorrow the men from our church are gathering at a camp for our annual retreat. This year’s theme is on courage. My personal prayer is that I will have the courage to grow to a new level of holiness, to which I am called. That will mean pushing things out of my life that blemish my walk with Christ. That will take humility and courage on my part. I covet your prayers and am relying upon the Holy Spirit’s work.

It is because of Jesus Christ and righteousness, and nothing else, that I am unmovable in my hope for my family’s future and our nation.

What are you placing your hope on?

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2014 David Jeffers

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