Be Careful What You Wish For

Well, the election is now over. It seems we have a new president in Barack Obama. Okay. America has spoken. About 51% of Americans wanted change. Change they did not expect to get from John McCain. Change we shall have. But will the change be for the better? What are we wanting to change into? Will the country be moving in the right direction? I will concede that the nation does need change, especially in the way our government works. This country was founded on the idea that government should be of the people by the people for the people. Unfortunately, it is all too often, of the money, by the money, for the money. We need fewer politicians and more statesmen (statespeople, if you prefer.) Do away with lobbyists and special interest groups and make it illegal for our elected officials to take ANY money from ANYBODY for ANYTHING -including and perhaps most importantly, election and re-election campaigns. If they don't owe anybody anything, then maybe they can vote their consciences, instead of scratching somebody's back. I dare say it would probably cut 90% of the pork out of proposed legislation as well. Raise their salaries, if you must. I realize they have to have a place to stay in Washington as well as a place to live in their home state. I understand that is expensive and difficult. Heck, I'd even go as far as to say, let's take a bunch of unused/underused land in the area (there's got to be some.) and build our senators and representatives nice, clean little modest homes that they can use while they're in office. When they lose their seat or retire, their replacement moves in. Sorry, got off on a tangent again. Blame it on my ADD/ADHD.


God gave us free will to choose. He wants us to choose to love Him first and foremost. Doing so means loving what He loves and hating (not choosing) what He hates. Choice, however means consequence. There are always consequences for our actions. So, we must be careful what we choose. We must really evaluate our options and choose what is right and good and in accordance with God's laws. If we break the laws to get what we want, even if it profits us for a while, then we'll get what we deserve in the end.

TANGENT ALERT!

I was upset when Oprah paraphrased scripture at Obama's victory rally (For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? -Mark 8:36) last night in Chicago. It's funny that people do so when it suits them. Even Satan used scriptural soundbites to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. People take scripture out of context when they need to make their own point. The context, however is what's important. The message is diminished when we don't consider the complete message. She said she endorsed Obama because it was the right thing to do. She wouldn't go as far as to take credit for Obama's victory. In fact she denied it and quickly moved away from the reporter who made suggested that Oprah helped make it happen. Still, a lot of people listen to Oprah. She might very well have influenced untold numbers of voters who hold her up as an idol of sorts. That's not a good thing. Especially given what Oprah has said lately about her religious beliefs. She said she had an experience in her late 20's when the pastor in the church she was attending quoted OT scripture, the part about the Lord being a jealous God. She said it didn't sit well with her. I think dear Oprah missed the point. The Random House College Dictionary (the only one I could get my hands on while writing this) defines jealousy as:

1. resentful and envious as of someone's attainments or of a person because of his attainments, advantages, etc.

God might be resentful what humans have attained in as much as our pride in "our" achievments has often displaced Him in our lives, but envious? I doubt it. He can do and has done infinitely more than we will ever achieve. Disagree? Try creating the universe sometime. Ain't gonna happen. Anyway, this definition doesn't sound like God to me. How else can jealousy be defined?

2. fearful of losing another's affection

We're getting warmer, here. God doesn't need us to give him our affection, but He does want us to love Him. I don't think fearful is a word I would ever use to describe God. He is who and what He is, and therefore has nothing to fear. Nothing we can do, no matter how much power the enemy gains, God is the great I AM and will be victorious over all His enemies. Still, He does have great concern for us and doesn't want to lose our love as He knows what calamity awaits us if we give our love to other "gods." Still, we're not quite there. How about this?:

3. troubled by suspicions or fears of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc. as in love or aims

The Lord may be saddened or perhaps even angered by our choice to put other "gods" before Him, and He has every right to be more than suspicious, for our actions are indeed suspect. We've already covered the "fear" thing above. Other than grave concern for our well-being, He doesn't know fear, for He has no equal (and never will) and therefore has no reason to fear. Unlike Satan and his demons, God's power is not diminished if we turn from Him.

4. solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something

God has delivered His faithful remnant time and again. He is our strong tower when we turn to Him and rely on Him. He warns us through His Word, as revealed in the scripture through the prophets, to be on guard against the enemy's repeated attacks. In this respect, yes, God could be called jealous.

5. intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry

We have another winner! The dictionary even included the biblical example: "The Lord is a jealous God." So true...and who more worthy of our love and respect and faithfulness than the one who created the universe and all things? The first commandment, folks: "..thou shalt have no other gods before me..." Jesus repeated it when asked what to do: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength. This is first and greatest commandment..." To say that it bothers you that God is a jealous God is as if to say that God has no right to be jealous. Ridiculous! We have no rights except those given us by our creator. Demanding more from Him than He has chosen to give is to follow the enemy in rebellion. Satan thought he deserved better, too. He thought he deserved to be like God and believed his own lie that he, through his own power and works, could in fact be like God.

Sorry. Oprah could be the subject of a post unto herself. No doubt that would please her best. But since I'd much rather please God than Oprah any day of the week, I need to redirect myself.

Getting back on track...
We must be careful what we wish for. Sometimes we'll get it. God doesn't want us to choose things that are bad for us, but because he gave us free will, he allows us the choice...and allows the consequences of that choice. God doesn't make bad things happen to those that love Him, but He does allow bad things to happen to His people. Usually, it's because of a bad choice we make, but sometimes, it's to test our faith. Read the book of Job. It's full of examples. As Christians and followers of God we will in all likelihood face trials of our faith, because of our faith.

So the faithful of this nation will be tested in the next four years and perhaps the next eight or even more. I'm not suggesting that it will only be a struggle while the Democrats control the White House or Congress or the Senate, or anything like that. There are probably "good" Democrats out there (gasp) as well as bad Republicans (double gasp.) I'm merely saying that as a country, as a nation, as a people, and as individuals, we must endeavor to choose what is right and good in God's sight, whether He blesses us for it or not. He will not curse us if we follow His perfect will for us, that's for sure. There will be trials and there will be tests from the enemy, but we must remain steadfast in our faith in the Father. When we wish for what he wills for us, then we needn't be concerned. The book of Jeremiah makes it clear: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you..." When our will is one with God's and we don't expect it to be the other way around, then we can be assured that we're asking for the right things. God's Word reveals to us that He has a beautiful plan. I, for one, can't wait until it unfolds.

Come, Lord Jesus.