Word of the Week: Election

Tomorrow in the United States is election day. Our nation selects a new President. The polls have been all over the map. Some favor Clinton. Others favor Trump. Some say the race is too close to call.  And still others are predicting a landslide victory for Clinton. Or Trump.  Depending on who you listen to.

In so many obvious ways this election has been unusual and unprecedented. Because of their drastically differing views, background and temperament, some have opined that this election is one of the most important in our history

While much has been discussed and written about the candidates and the importance of our vote tomorrow, much of it in vitriolic language, ThePreachersWord believes a few rational, balanced, Biblical thoughts are in order. Here’s my view.

While this election may be very important, some say monumental, I beg to differ. There is an even more important election. One of greater significance. Of personal relevance. Of eternal implications.

It’s your spiritual election. The apostle Peter warned us not to miss out on this election. “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall” (2 Pet 1:10).

The Greek word translated “election” is used seven times in the New Testament. The word means “the act of choosing…the act of picking out…selection, election, or choosing.”

This spiritual election is connected with our calling. And we are called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14). The Gospel calls us to leave behind selfish ambition, carnal appetites and worldly attitudes.

This election is too important to miss. To compromise. To forfeit. To forget. To fail. The qualities to which diligence must be maintained to be sure, and never fall are addressed earlier in the chapter. They are faith. Moral excellence. Knowledge. Self control. Perseverance. Godliness. Brotherly kindness. And love.

The election is God’s selection. God’s choice. God’s predetermination. However, it is not arbitrary or capricious. According to the Bible we are chosen in Christ.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Eph 1:3-6)

This election is IN CHRIST. God chose us to have fellowship with Him through Jesus’ death on the cross. He determined from eternity that the means of salvation would be in His Son, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:10 states: “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him.”

The same writer says to the Roman Christians how we get “into Christ.” “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3-4).

This is one election you don’t want to miss! It’s even more important than this one tomorrow. And it’s impact will have eternal implications.

◆This is God’s election (Rom 9:11).

◆This election is according to His grace. (Rom. 11:5)

◆Participating in this election makes us “God’s elect” people. (Rom. 8:33)

◆This election makes us a new person! (Col. 3:12)

Want change you can believe in? Want to see your fortunes improve? Your future brighter? Your hope clearer? You want a real recovery? Want to really move forward? With clear eyes? Full heart? And the knowledge you can’t lose?

Don’t miss out on God’s spiritual election!

His candidate is Christ. The only perfect one.

His platform is the Bible. The only real truth.

And His promise for the future is heaven. The only one you can completely trust.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman