I’m just watching the celebration of the new President elect, Barack Obama. I’m glad the ugly campaigning is over. I’m glad we as a country can begin to look forward. I don’t know what this election will bring. One thing I do know is that God is still sovereign. I know that Jesus arrived on the scene of history and actually didn’t spend much time at all talking about the prevailing government of the day. In fact, his primary message of change wasn’t “Revolution! Pick up your swords” or even “go to the polls!” But it was simply this: “Repent. The kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mark 1:15) The main issue is the heart and it’s relation to the Gospel.
I also can’t help but think about the short, tumultuous history of this great nation. I’m thankful that within the last month I took two trips to two historic U.S. sites. One to the MLK Center in Atlanta, Ga. Another trip was to Washington D.C. and to the Lincoln Memorial. Two giants of American history. Two men who gave their lives to preserve the highest ideals of the American experiment. Two men driven by an inner fire to see “love the Lord your God” and “love your neighbor as yourself” walked out on the city streets and in the hill country all throughout this nation, calling people to action and bringing justice to millions. Dr.King dreamed of a country where a person’s race would not be the determining factor in his success or failure. He spoke of a time when children would eat, laugh, play and celebrate together enjoying the satisfying bread of brotherly kindness and sweet fellowship. I think about the fulfillment of that prophecy tonight.
Abraham Lincoln knew well that “a house divided cannot stand.” While we are not as violently divided as we were when these two men took upon themselves the burden of leadership by sacrifice and service, we are still very much divided. My hope tonight is that every one of us, namely in the Church first, will be able to stand and say “he is my President,” and, under God, come together (Romans 13). The fact is that government isn’t the answer. Job creation, the economy, higher or lower taxes, healthcare…these are not the answers for America. They can definitely help or hinder, but they are not the answer. The only answer throughout history, has been the Gospel.
While I cannot know or presume to understand the weight of responsibility that Barack Obama feels right now, I do know he understands his unique and incredible place in history; that place that Abraham Lincoln preserved the Union to see. That place that Martin Luther King, Jr. lifted his voice like a trumpet to see. And for that I say thanks be to God for allowing me to live in the greatest nation on the Earth and experience history in the making. I only hope to make some history of my own with all those God allows me to walk with.