While watching the news and all of the multitude of ads via television, social media, snail mail, and even text messages; I discovered that they all have one thing in common. They promote fear. It’s not enough for you to control your vote, but I also have to vote your way or the country is doomed. The country became doomed when YOU decided that my voice doesn’t matter so that yours can be doubled. I’m not throwing my vote aka voice away but rather I am using it the way that the system allows me to. To hand it over to you so that your person/initiative wins would be throwing it away. I was raised that it is my responsibility to educate myself on what is on the ballot and make sure that my vote aka voice is mine. That I am intelligent enough to make that choice on my own. That’s what my high school government teacher taught me and it is biblical.
How is this biblical? Well, because you are promoting one thing that God tells us not to do 365 times in the bible. Fear. Those that follow God are called to “fear not”. He tells us 365 times, one for every day of the year. And unless we are voting on February 29, which I am 99.99999999% sure that we are not, I am not to fear. It doesn’t matter if this party will turn us Communist or that party will turn us Socialist. That is fear talking and God is much bigger than any political party or ideology. He is our Creator after all.
Prime example, when the Israelites left Egypt, they had a chance to enter the promised land before having to wander for 40 years. They sent 12 spies into the land to scope it out and came back 40 days later carrying the abundance of that land. Yet, when they reported what they saw, ten discussed fear of the inhabitants and doubt that they could defeat them. Only two, Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim and Caleb from the tribe of Judah spoke with faith. The people decided to follow the ten. For 40 years, in the desert, with sand, whining, complaining, and dying. Because they chose fear over faith. Joshua and Caleb were the only adults of that time that were allowed to enter the promised land because they had faith. And they successfully took the land because they knew that God was with them and they followed His lead. Feel free to read the whole story, Numbers 13-14; Joshua 3-14.
So, how long do I want to wait to enter the promised land that God has for me? If I choose fear, I’m stuck in the desert but when I choose faith, I open myself to receive what God has promised me. I only get those promises when I have faith. It’s not easy, ten of the 12 bravest men of Israel didn’t seem to have faith after seeing what was in their new home. They didn’t hold on to God’s promise that it was their home, not the people that were currently there. And logically from the worldview lens, they had reason to be afraid. They had to be large to grow such enormous produce. But at the same time they didn’t because God was leading them and God is bigger than any army or people. Including America.
Another great story, David and Goliath. David was still just a kid. He was so small that he couldn’t even wear the armour that Saul had given him for the battle. And this was against a man so large and intimidating that Saul’s whole army wouldn’t face him, including three of David’s older brothers. Goliath was a man who was to be feared. It was legitimate, had they been without God. But God was with them and he was with David. The boy who stepped out in faith. Just look at what he said.
45. Then David said to the Philistine (Goliath), “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands.” -1 Samuel 17:45-47
That’s some serious faith, I pray for that level of faith. “You’re big. You're strong. You've got all these giant weapons to use. You've got big muscles that you like to flex. Ha, ha, ha. Seriously dude, you’re tiny compared to my God, the Lord of Israel. Like a little pea. And here in a moment, you and all your crew will be animal food. Because you are that minute to God.”
That’s something that I should remember when my fear tries to override my faith. God is always bigger. The world is great at making things seem monumental but really aren’t. Not compared to God. Even politics. That’s why I can’t feed into the fear, it goes against God. Am I going to trust Him or focus on the world?
Don’t get me wrong, I am still going to vote. A whole day will be spent studying each candidate and writing out my choices to take with me to the polls. I pay attention to multiple news stations. Left, right, someone somewhat in the middle, and outside of America. Because there’s more to this planet than the US of A. And between the four, I might get an idea of what the truth is.
I’m listening to what is being said, who is saying it, and what their behavior and actions tell me. Actions tend to speak much louder than words. You know, because talk is cheap. One could say that I am observing, studying, and praying on how I will vote. There are questions that I ask. If they claim to follow God, does their life reflect it? Do they walk in faith or fear? Who knows, after my due diligence, I might agree with you. But I will only get there through my faith in God, not out of fear of what might be. If you choose to ask those questions, just know that you and God will be the only ones that can answer that for you. I will not take away your voice, even if I disagree.
The Israelites chose fear and spent 40 years fighting blisters in the desert heat. David chose faith and had victory over Palestine’s largest and greatest warrior. Which would you choose? And if the worst does happen, then my faith will carry me through just like it did for Joshua and Caleb. In the end, they did get to enter the promised land.
My life is not in the hands of this or any country but God’s. And as long as my life is God’s, I will do my best to walk in faith. It doesn’t matter what fear tactic is tried, I have to choose faith because my God is THAT LARGE. Isn’t that the logical choice?