Galatians 5:13-14: "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Colossians 3:16-17, 23-25: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the Father through Him.
"And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the LORD and not to men, knowing that from the LORD you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the LORD CHRIST.
"But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality (favoritism)."
1 Timothy 2:1-7: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of GOD our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
"For there is one GOD and one Mediator between GOD and men, the Man CHRIST JESUS, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle--I am speaking the truth in CHRIST and not lying--a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth."
ONCE UPON A TIME, nearly a decade ago, during another election year, when I was getting more into praying fervently and digging deeper into the Bible, trying to be a hearer AND doer of the WORD of GOD, and trying to please GOD more than others, including my family, I was questioning seriously the strength, sincerity, and validity of my Faithwalk and my real motivation(s) for voting and selecting candidates year after year the way I traditionally and typically did and had been doing, since age eighteen, I asked a friend of mine, who was a published writer and college instructor, too, on our way back to work from a restaurant, if GOD really cared about how we voted, who we voted for, and the policies and practices of the culture we affirmed, promoted, advanced, advocated, tolerated, and condoned; what would really happen if JESUS, the Righteous Judge, actually did judge us, or if He really did call us to give an honest account, especially as believers, not just of our words and deeds, but according to all those people, men and women, we elected or voted into government/public office and the political platforms and policies and executive and/or legislative laws we advocated, promoted, affirmed, advanced, and/or condoned; would we be condemned or justified, according not just to our words and deeds but according to those political platforms, laws, policies and/or practices that compromised, perverted, and/or went completely contrary to the WORD, the WILL, and the WAY of GOD; would our choices, our voices, our votes, our values, our faith, our loyalties, our alliances, our endorsements, our politics, our platforms, our words, our deeds, our actions, and our allegiances really matter, in terms of our relationship and our eternity, in respect to JESUS, the Son of GOD; to GOD the Father; to GOD, the HOLY SPIRIT, who is equally Good, Loving, Just, Sovereign, and Holy (Righteous and Perfect)?
Really, of course, when we, as believers, are really and truly voting our faith and voting our values, we should prayerfully seek GOD first in all of our choices and all of our decisions, in terms of who should be elected into any government/public office, because we as believers will be held accountable, in the end, so we should always be advocating more than just one current issue and more than just one political party, especially out of tradition, in regard to a secular kingdom of culture; we should be voting for more than just one popular person or charming and/or charismstic man or woman and his or her personality, platform, policies, agenda, lifestyle, opinions, and worldview or perspective on any issue, especially in relation to faith, family, finances, the economy, (higher)/(public) education, marriage, (national) security, law and order, and/or healthcare.
We should be voting more for GOD's Platform and for the eternal heart, soul, mind, salvation, deliverance, protection, provision, peace, reconciliation, redemption, repentance, and forgiveness of our COUNTRY than for any one man or woman outside of JESUS CHRIST, who may or may not be around in his or her office or position in the next two, four, six, eight, or even more years.
After all, in eternity, in the spiritual realm, we as believers, only get extra credit in the Kingdom of GOD for being Fishers of women and men--for drawing all of those lost and wandering souls on board this ship and on board this plane called LIFE back HOME to the real Creator, the real Life-giver, the real Source, Architect, Builder, Designer, Manufacturer, Abba-Father, and Author and Finisher (Perfecter) of our Faith: The Almighty, Living GOD.
As believers, our foundation, our platform, and our standard is always found in one place and one Person, in the WORD of GOD (found in the Holy Bible) and in the Son of GOD, JESUS CHRIST, and we as believers, more than anyone else with a carnal nature and secular, earth-bound, and temporal perspective and worldview, should always be more CHRIST-centered than self-centered, looking GOD-ward, thinking eternally, with a Kingdom-of-GOD and Kingdom-of-heaven perspective, and we should be voting in every election in alliance with JESUS, alongside GOD, always in alignment, in allegiance and in obedience with and to His WORD, His will, His way, His agenda, His platform, His purpose, His plan, and His perspective.
For example, in 1 John 3:8-10, we learn that for this purpose, JESUS, the Son of GOD, was manifested, "that He might destroy the works of the devil," and "whoever has been born of GOD does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of GOD.
"In this the children of GOD and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of GOD, nor is he who does not love his brother (i.e. neighbor)."
In Proverbs 16:13 and 15, we learn that "whoever rewards evil for good, evil will not depart from his house," and "he who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD," and we learn what GOD hates, what really makes Him mad and often, brings about His judgment, individually and collectively, in Proverbs 6:16-19, for it says, "These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren."
Finally, in Micah 6:8, we learn what GOD would have us do, for it says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your GOD," and this is in addition to the Great Commission that JESUS gives us in Matthew 28:18-20, where He says, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen (i.e. so be it)."
Basically, love for GOD is worshipping Him in spirit and truth; love for GOD is loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; love for GOD is putting Him first in every area of our lives; trusting in Him--leaning on Him; depending on Him; relying on Him.
Love for GOD is seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness first and letting Him be the LORD of our lives, in every area, in every capacity, in every way, which means GOD is really the SOLE OWNER of our lives, and JESUS is always at the helm or in the driver's seat, at the wheel.
Love for GOD is blessing His first born in terms of people and nations: Israel and the Jewish people; it is praying for peace in Jerusalem, here, and that eternal City and future home or dwelling place of GOD, the New Jerusalem.
Love for GOD is blessing our neighbors, loving them, even as we love ourselves, and even praying for our enemies--including those that talk about us, tell lies on us, gossip on us, slander us, bully us, and persecute us.
Love for GOD is respecting, honoring, and praying those in leadership and authority, and maintaining law and order because justice and righteousness are the foundations of GOD'S throne, according to the WORD of GOD, and He is not the author of chaos and confusion, nor does He advocate nor promote nor tolerate violence, rebellion, pride, deception, hatred, gossip, idolatry, anti-Semitism, infanticide, unforgiveness, murder, witchcraft, divination, and division, especially among His people, those who make up the Church, who are in the church, who are the followers and the believers in the Body of CHRIST, who are the living "temples" of the HOLY SPIRIT.
And here's a great explanation to help us understand the difference between justice and vengeance that also reveals the difference between being Kingdom-of-GOD/Prince-of-Peace/CHRIST-centered and being kingdom-of-darkness/kingdom-of-culture/Self-centered/adversary/prince-of-this-world-centered: "Justice is the act of protecting and/or enforcing the law; justice is the act of correcting something done wrong; it is making something "right," or bringing back into alignment or back into "right standing" (or righteousness) something that has been corrupted, compromised, perverted, or done wrong.
In contrast, vengeance is the act of bypassing and/or subverting or overriding "traditional" law and order, like a vigilante, effectively taking matters into one's hands, and doing what "seems" right or acceptable according to one's own standard or code of behavior, usually in terms of getting "payback" or getting even with the "alleged" and/or "imagined" perpetrator(s)/wrongdoers."
In regard to the Bible, GOD is our Protector, our Provider, our Shield, our Defender, our Advocate, our Judge, our Avenger, our LORD of Lords and our KING of kings. He alone is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble, and vengeance, according to His WORD, is always His, because as many verses, including Exodus 14:14 reveal, GOD is with us; GOD is in us; GOD is for us, fighting our battles.
In terms of comics, cartoons, movies, and superheroes, justice versus vengeance can also be illustrated in regard to The Justice League (including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Static, etc), usually working in company of or alongside traditional law enforcement (i.e. police, military, government) and The Avengers (including Iron man, Captain America, Black Widow, Black Panther, Thor, Hulk, Falcon, Guardians of the Galaxy, Antman, etc), often, working alone; sometimes, working together, usually, outside the jurisdiction and/or authority of traditional law/military/government, many times, exacting "law" and "order" as they deem right/just/acceptable/fair.
Finally, love for GOD is "fearing" Him, which is revering Him and obeying His commands, according to His Word and that of His Son, JESUS, for as one person writes, "the will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you."
In the natural, I never tell anyone who to vote for, nor do I tell anyone who to endorse, elect; however, in the spiritual, and in the natural, I do affirm, honor and reverence GOD; I do endorse, exalt and promote JESUS CHRIST; and I am a temple of the HOLY SPIRIT, and He is with me, wherever I GO, and my allegiance is first and foremost, to GOD, the Father, the Son, the HOLY SPIRIT.
So, the real question on this election day in 2020 is this: Are we as believers, disciples and followers of GOD, of JESUS CHRIST, really voting on the basis of our faith, of our values, which should be alongside, in alignment with the WORD, the WILL, the STANDARD, the PLATFORM, the PURPOSE, the PLAN, and the WAY of GOD? Or are we merely voting on the basis of personality, charisma, popularity, opinion, perspective, tradition, race, gender, affiliations, politics, preferences and parties? Because only what we do for GOD, for CHRIST, will matter in the end.
More than being in favor or in protest or for or against any particular politician or candidate, regardless of his or her party, gender, sound-bites, photo-ops, tweets, interviews, public relations, celebrity support, endorsements, and race, I'm always in favor of any person, policy, perspective, and platform that exalts GOD, honoring His name, including the name of JESUS; that affirms, honors, and venerates our GOD, the Living GOD, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, upholding HIS Standard, promoting HIS agenda, and protecting HIS BELOVED, including the nation of Israel, the Jews, and the innocent, including children, even those in the womb; that respects, protects, upholds the WORD of GOD, as infallible, as truth, promoting an eternal, kingdom-of-heaven, CHRIST-centered, and biblical perspective and lifestyle/worldview.
But that's just me, walking out my own faith, as one of the CHOSEN, one of the REDEEMED, one of the FORGIVEN, one of children of GOD, and as a SOULED-OUT, blood-bought believer, disciple, and follower, not fan, of GOD, of JESUS CHRIST, living my life LOUD for GOD, for JESUS, because I am not an undercover, lukewarm Christian, nor am I a passively silent believer, because we as believers are created, called and chosen to be KINGDOM KIDS, diverse but UNITED, never diverse and divided; we are commanded and commissioned to be CHAMPIONS 4 CHRIST; and we are encouraged, empowered, and equipped to be GOSPEL GLOBE TROTTERS, making a difference, not just an impression, from generation to generation, all for the glory and honor of GOD.
So, regardless of who wins this election on earth today, in this country, this nation, GOD is still in control, seated eternally on HIS throne, as the LORD of Lords and KING of kings, and GOD is unchanging; and JESUS is the same yesterday, today and forever--ever good, ever just, ever loving, ever majestic, ever sovereign, ever matchless, ever living, ever GOD, and as 1 Timothy 1:17 says, in affirming and honoring GOD, "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to GOD who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."
