I know exactly who is going to win the next election. But don’t worry I’m not going all ‘charismatic’ on you and pretending to have the gift of prophesy. No, I know who’s going to win because there is only one logical possibility. I know who is going to win because I know Daniel 2 v 21. I know that God will win the next election. God wins every election. It’s incredible if you think about – when you walk into that polling both there’s no name on the card saying ‘God’ for you to put your cross against. And even if there was then I can guarantee you there would be few that would vote for him. In fact, I think it’s a fair bet that a lot of people in this country would get incredibly angry if they knew that God was going to win this election. But as it says in Daniel: “Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.” Daniel 2 v 20 – 21 God set up kings all those hundreds of years ago during the time of Daniel and he sets up governments today. God decides the outcome of this coming general election. God decides the outcome of every election. Yet God does more than just set governments in place. As it says in Proverbs: “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21 v 1 God is also in control of the decisions any government makes, he limits them and directs them in accordance with his divine plan. Wait a second, if this is true, explain the Labour government This isn’t just my bias against Labour coming out. For the last thirteen years Labour has systematically pursued an anti-Christian agenda, in action if not in words. Examples are many and varied from banning public employees praying for other people all the way through to slowly changing the law to allow assisted suicide. Labour Peer Lord Donoughue said he was ashamed of the ‘intolerant bigotry’ within his party against Christians. And of course there’s that infamous quote by Alasdair Campbell “This government doesn’t do God.” So the question that we have to ask is: why did God let such a party win knowing the end result? In fact, let’s go further still, much further: why did God let Hitler rise to power? Why does God still let Mugabe rule? Why aren’t evil dictators removed? Or as the American Right might ask: why did Obama get into power? “Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?” Isaiah 40 v 13 In other words: I can’t tell you the answer to any of those questions. Do you really expect me or any other human to fathom the mind of God? Do you really expect to understand the Almighty? What then can you say? I can say two things about God’s sovereign choice over who will win the next election. First is from Romans: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8 v 28 The last thirteen years of an anti-Christian government has been for the good of God’s people. The rise of Hitler was for the good of God’s people. All things are for the good of God’s people. How was [insert bad thing here] for the good of God’s people? In many respects that again is not a question I could ever fully answer. What I can say is that it forces us to trust God through good times and bad. We’re called to faith whatever outside circumstances dictate. It is a matter of faith, as Paul writes: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4 v 8 - 9 We are often perplexed by things happening in this world but we should never despair. What’s your second point? “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6 v 8 Regardless of the outcome of the election on May 6th I am called to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with my God. Every Christian is called to do this. So let’s say the Conservative win, I’ll find walking humbly with God extremely easy whereas many of you will find it difficult. But what if the Lib Dems win? Well, then I’ll find walking humbly with God very difficult and other among you will find it easy. The point is: our individual opinion doesn’t matter. I think the Conservatives would run this country the best out of a bad bunch of choices. I’m voting Tory because of that. That is good and right and proper. Hypothetical friend, ok, everyone else, will be voting Lib Dem because they believe that the Lib Dems will run this country the best. That as well is good and right and proper. But God’s will prevails. Whoever God has chosen to rule this country will win the election. And we have to, we must, we are commanded to walk humbly with God irrespective of who wins. Does that mean if the Tories win God is a Tory? No! God is above and beyond politics. God transcends our petty human squabbles over right or left wing. Yes, we can take what wisdom we can from the Bible but God is greater than any political party. As such, just because a party gets in does not mean that they’ll follow God’s commands. Just because a party wins doesn’t mean that God favours them over another party. It just means that at this current time that party is the best thing for God’s people. What encouragement does this bring? All the encouragement in the world. If we have faith, true faith, that Romans 8 v 28 holds true in all things then we know; we have God’s assurance that the result for this coming general election is a) all part of God’s plan and b) for the good of his people. Accepting this may be hard but we need to submit to God’s divine will. Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God – this is what we all need to resolve ourselves to do come a Tory, Lib Dem, Green government or worse. Final thoughts Let me close with some sage advice from one of the Psalmists: “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.” Psalm 146 v 3 – 4 David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown, Barak Obama, Margret Thatcher, Ron Paul – we need to avoid making idols out of them. This is easier in some cases than others. For all those mentioned will die but God will remain forever. Above all, don’t put your trust in man, don’t put your trust in politics, don’t listen to their promises, don’t believe their lies, don’t ever imagine they’ll achieve half of what they promise. Trust in God, believe in God, for our God is the God of the impossible. As the rest of Psalm 146 says: Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
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