Is All Hope Lost?

By: American Decency Staff

I have to admit, when I first heard the news that Senator Ted Cruz was suspending his presidential campaign and that Donald Trump was the presumptive Republican nominee, my heart sank. My imagination jumped in its time machine and gazed at my children's future in a post-Trump or, much more likely, post-Hillary America.

Will they be allowed to worship or express their faith publically? Will they be allowed to defend themselves? Will there be jobs for them? Worst of all, will their little hearts and minds be pried from their heritage of Christianity and conservatism by an arrogant, militantly anti-Christian culture?

And then it occurred to me, was my faith really in Ted Cruz to prevent all that? Could electing a president who shares the majority of my beliefs really ensure a bright future for my kids? Of course not. Cruz is a good man, and I think he would have made a great president, but the only thing he would have ever been is a tool of Almighty God.

Just like Trump is a tool of Almighty God.

And maybe that's why God allowed Donald Trump to happen, to remind His people that He is the only One who can save them. God is, as conservatives like to blasphemously credit America, the "Last Best Hope for Mankind."

The Bible is full of stories about God's people putting their faith where it doesn't belong.

The early humans who tried to build the tower of Babel so they could reach heaven on their own, for example, or the Israelites who wanted to abandon their journey to the Promised Land so they could cook their quail in some Egyptian spices. How about when Israel chose an earthly king over their Heavenly King and ended up with Saul?

God shows His people over and over again that He is control and He doesn't share His power with anyone.

Think about the way that God turned the powerful heathen king, Nebuchadnezzar, into His own servant in Daniel 4. Nebuchadnezzar came out of that experience saying, "I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble." How about God winnows Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300 lest Israel say, "My own power has delivered me."

In Isaiah 31, God condemns those who put their faith in human might, rather than Providence, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help  and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many  and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel  or consult the Lord!”

Unless I'm the only guilty one, maybe the lesson American Christians need to learn is that election cycles and politicians have no hope of turning this nation towards Him, and – though we should use the vote He's blessed us with to honor Him – we can leave the restoration up to Him. May we prepare ourselves to be used by Him in His own way.

Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer, an event which pulls many eyes to 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

What an opportunity to rethink what it means to "humble ourselves" –  repent of our own sins, admit that we are powerless to stem the tide of evil in our country, even recognize that we have been part of the problem, and give God the authority that is already His.

 

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