The Election Is Over - Now What?

Proving what is acceptable to the Lord - Ephesians 5:10

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18

To my Christian friends...we have an uncommon and rare opportunity in our culture. We have the ability to speak into it deeply and openly. Many Christians were shut out in times past and even now our world has shadows and spaces frightening to those of our faith; places where it is not safe. However, here in America (if you are in America - if not, this is a good read anyway!) we enjoy the concept of inalienable rights; the ability to live a life aimed at providing a better future, contentment, goals and happiness.

We just had an election. Many of us are now disappointed. The hope for improvement and change we desired does not seem to be on the horizon; at least it won't be as easy. Our culture, at least through means political, will not get the opportunity to improve as we had hoped. But is the Body of Christ commissioned to improve culture? Is that our commission? Is that our goal? Is that our God-given duty?

I don't think so.

We have been called to "The Way of the Cross." We are to take up our cross and we are to follow Jesus. We are to practice both discipleship (follow Jesus) and denial (do things we find distasteful) all in faith, believing God when He says this is how true change, transformation occurs.

The way of the Cross is not about improvement; not even the much celebrated "continual" improvement. Jesus marching orders to you and I was to create Transformation. This transformation is brought about by a Revelation of eternal and abiding love that extends itself to us from our heavenly Father and in God's plan through us to others. The revealing part, the revelation, was Jesus loved us in ways that weren't cool, fun, personally satisfying from a selfish perspective; Jesus did what was asked of Him regardless of how he felt about doing what was asked. He believed His Father first, He acted on the words given to Him, He did those things - Transformation!

That was the message of God before the election. It is still God's plan today.

We have the privilege, yea verily (I love yea verilys')  opportunity to speak into our culture in a way that most all who have named the name of Jesus Christ before us and in nations around us have not in their time, in their lives, their culture. But in doing so we must take it all by way of the Cross, through the blood of God's Son, the greatest selfless act of love and we must embrace it and realize it comes with a price. Actually, it comes with many prices if we want to break it down...

1. It's slow - Usually change comes one person at a time
2. It's incremental - It doesn't happen everywhere and in all places at once
3. It is humbling - We can't do it in our own power
4. It happens when we first give ourselves over to it and not much around us supports our effort to do that

There have been great revivals. There have been wonderful movements where nations, generally, have had their heart changed and their circumstance along with it turned from cursing to blessing but those instances come through sold out to the cause of God's love and not to a balanced budget.

We won't be met with instant success. We are not instantly believed, and our message and our desire, if it is a right desire, will not always be met with open arms.

God raises up and sets down Kings...and there is but one eternal King who does not fail. We put our eyes on Him and pray for the rest of them and, when opportunity gives us chance, we use the skill, the power, the ability we are blessed with to TRANSFORM our culture...not just improve it...

I pray for our President for whatever he did to bring our nation together previously didn't work. It is time for a new strategy - He, I hope, realizes the TRANSFORMING business has a future...the improvement biz? Mmm...not so much.

I remain...

InHISGrip,