As Election Day draws near, people are getting nervous. Someone told me the other day he’s “scared to death” that Biden will be our next president.
While your anxiety may not be that intense, would it be fair to say that you’re somewhat worried about the upcoming election?
From a human standpoint, I get it. There’s much at stake as we consider our country’s moral degradation and the influence that the U. S. President has in setting our national agenda. His views on abortion, gay marriage, civil rights, law and order, and other issues will impact hundreds of millions of Americans, including you and me. We’re rightly concerned not only for ourselves, but also for our children and grandchildren. Yes, much is at stake in this year’s election. That’s for sure.
But this morning as I read the first few chapters of Daniel, I was reminded of who’s really in charge.
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings . . . (Dan. 2:20-21).
Daniel was a Jew taken as a captive to Babylon when he was still a teenager. He served under the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar who had a massive ego, a fiery temper, and impulsive tendencies. That’s a bad combination! When Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that he could not understand, he demanded that his wise men both tell him the dream and interpret it. When they couldn’t, he commanded that they all be destroyed! Thankfully, God mercifully gave Daniel the ability to tell Nebuchadnezzar what he dreamed and interpret it for him. In fact, the praise-filled prayer quoted above was Daniel’s response to God’s revelation.
Instead of worrying, Daniel worshiped. So did Asaph in Psalm 75. He begins by saying, “We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds” (Ps. 75:1). Asaph recognizes that God alone is worthy of such praise, “for not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgement, putting down one and lifting up another” (Ps. 75:6-7).
That’s the point that God was communicating to Nebuchadnezzar through his dream. The Babylonian kingdom and all subsequent kingdoms (Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, etc.) would be shattered by a kingdom that would never fall — God’s kingdom. It “shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever” (Dan. 2:44).
The one who rules this kingdom is none other than Jesus Christ, for he is “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15; cf. Rev. 19:16). All who trust in him alone as Savior have, by sheer grace, become citizens of God’s eternal kingdom (Phil. 3:20; 1 Pet. 2:9-10).
When Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate,” Jesus said to him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). Truth is, God appoints rulers to suit his own sovereign, good purpose. “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, and are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
So don’t sweat this year’s election. Yes, do exercise your rights and responsibilities as an American, but do so knowing that you are foremost a citizen of God’s kingdom, and his kingdom rules over all (Ps. 103:19).
Our election is God’s selection.
He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
So replace worry with worship!