Perhaps you were like me on Tuesday night as the final electoral numbers flashed on the TV screen: speechless. I had dared to hope it would not go the way it did. We who are in Messiah Yeshua always dare to hope! But after all was said and done I realized that that is the point, isn't it? We dare to hope even in the face of defeat and disappointment because our hope is in no man; it is in HIM. He is our King and He will NEVER suffer defeat!
However, the days ahead are not looking very bright or encouraging. I expect that our trials will increase, as will the darkness around us. As more and more states vote in same-sex marriage, legalize recreational drugs, continue in murdering unborn children, and put their hope and future in government hand-outs, this country will begin to look more and more like Sodom. And we know that as it says in Ecclesiastes 3:15, "Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God calls back the past." He is responding to America as He responded to Sodom - sending His righteous judgments to call a people to humble themselves, confess their sin, and bow the knee to Yeshua, the Lord Jesus Christ, who loves them and gave Himself for them. (Please read Romans 1:24-28).
In the meantime, as the darkness surrounds us and His judgments fill us with awe and some trepidation, we must remember how Yeshua told us the Kingdom would come: "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." Yes, birth pains, my friends! Our God is not destroying something, He is birthing something - something eternal and beyond our imagining! He is birthing His Kingdom and it will come through fiery trials and tribulation. The apostle Peter speaks to us even in our day, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Messiah, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed!" Overjoyed! Yes, as discouraged and disappointed as we may feel today, we must keep our eyes on our True King, who has not abandoned us nor forsaken us.
I believe He has given this nation over to the Pharoah they desired, even as He allowed King Saul to rule over Israel when the Israelites wanted a king other than their God. Yet, He has preserved for Himself a remnant of righteous people who will refuse to embrace evil, and will keep His commandments. The prophet Daniel, speaking of the last days, says: "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever!" (Daniel 12:3)
As the world plunges deeper into darkness, the Light of Messiah in you will shine ever brighter! Ask God for wisdom.
Pray for our nation and for its leaders (especially for courage and boldness for our governors).
Pray for open doors to lead many to righteousness.
And in the midst of the darkness, keep on singing that little song from your childhood:
"Don't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
