If you live in the United States and have been displeased about the direction of the country over the last eight years, then you probably voted for Donald Trump. If you’ve felt good about the last eight years and wanted many of the current policies to continue, then you most likely voted for Hillary Clinton.
Depending on who you voted for, you’ve either been excited and encouraged by the results of last week’s election or you’re dealing with shock, anger and fear…the same feelings many of the Trump voters experienced eight years ago and again four years ago.
The above map shows the results broken down by county with Trump in red and Clinton in blue. Obviously, Trump has support in more areas of the country and Clinton supporters are more concentrated in certain areas, but the bottom line is this: roughly half the population supported one candidate and half supported the other.
At this point, despite the riots in various parts of the country, the election is over…the results are final…and in 66 days, we’ll have a new president. So now what?
Well, regardless of who you voted for, if you are a follower of Jesus, let me offer a few reminders…
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus is still seated on His throne. That hasn’t changed. The American president is not sovereign. He’s not all-powerful.
Let me suggest that to the degree you’ve been overly happy or overly angry this last week…you’ve placed your hope in the wrong person. I will guarantee this: if you’re feeling afraid, then know that most of what you fear will not happen. And if you are hopeful that everything will be better now, then you will be disappointed.
Jesus said, “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness…” If God’s goal was to simply take us to heaven, He could have already done it. His desire is for His followers to live on earth, walk according to His ways and advance His Kingdom. And the Kingdom of God operates according to different principles than the world does.
We live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We seek to give, not get (Acts 20:35). We don’t repay insults with insults, but with blessing (1 Peter 3:9). We don’t hate our enemies, we love them (Matthew 5:43-44). We don’t walk in fear and anxiety, but in peace (Philippians 4:6-7). We aren’t overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors…” (2 Corinthians 5:20) As a follower of Jesus, your primary identity is not Republican or Democrat. Your allegiance is not to a political party or ideology. Your king is Jesus. You are a citizen of the Kingdom of God. And you are given the responsibility of being an ambassador, of representing the king to those around you. Let’s choose to love others well.
I’m not suggesting we shouldn’t care about government policies or who we elect, but those concerns should pale in comparison to what’s eternal…
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Where will you be fixing your eyes?