I am counting down the days till the American election. I am sure I am not the only one but it isn't because I am really invested in who wins or loses since I am not even an American and I can't vote.
I am just excited for it to be over with. For life to go on and for the world to talk about something else. It has been a long year of people battling it out to become the future president of the Unites States of America.
I would like to put forth that when we wake up on November 9th that yes they will have a new president, but no one will have actually won this election. Sure there will be a winner in the President seat but the nation and the world has torn itself in two to get here.
Friends have turned on each other in a bitter war of what we call democracy. At the end of this day I hope we realize what we have done in the name of freedom. We have called each other names, we have gotten dirty like the candidates who are running, we have unfriended people for not believing and voting the same way we would, we have argued and vented about the other side, we have bullied, we have gossiped, we have slandered.
This election has made the people the losers, we are no longer friends valuing and respecting diversity and choice and I am talking about Christians. We have thought that our candidate is the only possible way for Christians to vote.
Is this an election or a soap opera?
The way we have acted towards each other is a reflection of this election. All you had to do was watch part of the debate and it made me think I was 15 years old again caught up in my favorite soap opera and I was waiting for one of the main characters to die or a new plot twist. It wasn't about policy but about scandal and he did this and she said that. It was embarrassing and most of all sad. Each candidate was attacking each other for their personal lives (both have their own issues) but not really talking about the main issues about running a country.
One of the best questions that was asked is "Are you someone that kids can look up to?" and I had to laugh that both candidates could not truthfully answer the question since they know the answer is "no." Neither candidate are people of integrity and it truly has been one scandal after another for both candidates who have painted pasts.
Is this really democracy?
One has to look at the candidates and wonder how on earth is this the best America has to offer. They have 260 million people and this is what was put forth to run their country? Yes and no! For some reason in God's sovereign plan He has chosen these two candidates to be the contenders for the presidency. Maybe this is God's judgment coming to this nation and to others who have for so long told God to get out of our government, schools, and families.
Maybe this is how God wants to bring us Christians onto our knees to be praying for our countries. I don't know what the Lord's plan is but I do know that it in Romans chapter 13 verse 1 it tells us to "be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." God is in control and He may very well be giving them what they asked for.
This election has brought out the worst in all of us. I am guilty of this as well. All this bickering over the election has really shown that this is a broken country and we need to remember that not one leader is going to fix this country or any country. All nations are broken and can't be 'made great again' unless they follow what 2 Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14 tells us to do and that is humble ourselves, pray, seek God, repent then God "will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal our land."
The only hope America has and any nation in the world is to turn back to God to save them. Examine our own heart and see if all of us need to repent for how each one has conducted yourself this election or in our own elections.
There is hope
Before we lose hope about this election remember to pray for our leaders, pray for those in authority since we are called to do so. God can move mighty in their lives. Look at Moses, he killed a man, David slept with his good friend's wife and then arranged for him to be killed. The Bible is full of leaders with flaws, some became repentant and were great leader's others well they were used in a different way for Israel history. God can use Hilary or Donald for good, He can change their hearts so that they repent and put their trust in Christ alone. Now wouldn't that be a great ending to their story in 4 years.
Genevieve Wilson is a happily married stay at home, home-schooling mum of 3, whose passion is to see people come to know Jesus. She worked 8 years as a missionary with Youth with a Mission (YWAM). She has a heart for justice.
Genevieve Wilson's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/genevieve-wilson.html