We’ve all been bombarded with messages about “the most important election in our lifetime.” Whether it’s via texts, online banners, or television commercials, we’ve felt the push of politicians and political groups asking for our support.
A lot does ride on today’s election. Who will be the leader of our country and the face of American democracy for the next four years? Not only that, but there are also hundreds if not thousands of state and local elections, from school boards to city councils to governors to state propositions.
So today, November 2, is a momentous day. But it is not a day that will alter the course of history. That’s because nothing can change what happened on three very special days more than 2,000 years ago.
On the first day, in a small town in a small province of a gigantic, powerful empire, a son was born (Isaiah 9:7). But this was no ordinary occurrence. It was a miraculous birth, not only because the mother was a virgin, but because the child was the Son of God (Isaiah 7:14).
The second day was a dark Friday, during which a man who did no wrong was crucified on a hill. The wrath of God was poured on him and he gave up his last breath so that the curtain in the temple could be torn in two.
The third day was a Sunday morning dawn when all seemed lost. But when the women came to visit the tomb, the stone had been rolled away. Jesus had risen indeed, just as he had said, and now those who believed in him would also rise again.
These three days changed the course of history. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, humanity was on an inevitable decline toward death and destruction. No matter how many bulls were slaughtered, no matter how many good deeds we did, we could not change the fate of our human race.
But we who could not save ourselves were inconceivably rescued by the perfect lamb of God. Because of these glorious, reality-altering days, we could be born again, transformed by the sacrifice of the God who is with us.
As we see the results come in today, would we not think that this will change the course of history. Empires rise and fall. Christians have survived persecution and death. The Gospel continues to be preached and the gates of hell will never prevail against the church. The fact that God came to earth to live, die, and rise again to save us will never be changed. It is forevermore.
No matter who wins our local, state, or national elections, Christians can be assured that God’s kingdom reigns forever. Christians can have hope no matter who is the president. Christians will seek to do good and promote justice whatever the circumstances.
So as the election numbers come in, would we remember our God who is Sovereign and is the ultimate author of time and space? Would we remember a God who made a way for us to be a part of his kingdom? Would we have peace, whether the map turns blue or red?
Because history has already been changed. No man can stop God from finishing his story of judgment and redemption. We simply wait, as John did, and say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”