What Really Matters

Timely words from more than half-century ago that I’ll stand on as I head to the polls on Tuesday…

“One thing must be kept in mind: We Christians are Christians first and everything else after that. Our first allegiance is to the kingdom of God. Our citizenship is in heaven. We are grateful for political freedom. We thank God for democracy as a way of life. But we never forget that we are sons of God and citizens of another city whose builder and maker is God. For this reason, we must not identify the gospel with any political system or make Christianity to be synonymous with any form of government, however noble. Christ stands alone, above and outside of every ideology devised by man. He does not join any of our parties or take sides with any of our great men except as they may come over on His side and try to follow Him in righteousness and true holiness. Then He is for them but only as individuals, never as leaders of some political faction. The true Christian will be loyal to his country and obedient to those in authority, but he will never fall into the error of confusing his own national culture with Christianity. Christianity is bigger than any country, loftier than any civilization, broader than any human ideology.”—AW Tozer

Yes, but wait. This year is different. “What would Jesus do in such a time as this?”

To which, He might reply, as He has always done down through the ages:

“The real question is, what will you do?”

The answer, of course, is right in front of me. Not easy, but absolutely perfect and right.

It looks a lot like humility and selflessness and seeking first the Kingdom of God.

It looks a lot like that narrow road He talked about.

It brings to life what He meant when He said “take up your cross daily.”

It looks a lot like…Jesus.

The answer is couched in ancient and timeless Words that will be much more important to my Walk and how I live with my neighbors—red, blue or in between—after election day than on it, no matter who wins:

“Pray much for others; plead for God’s mercy upon them; give thanks for all He is going to do for them. Pray in this way for kings and all others who are in authority over us, or are in places of high responsibility, so that we can live in peace and quietness, spending our time in godly living and thinking much about the Lord. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for He longs for all to be saved and to understand this truth:

That God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, Himself man, is between them to bring them together, by giving His life for all mankind.”

—1 Timothy 2:1-6, Living Bible

This, too, is worship.