The Battleground State

I am as disappointed this morning as I have been in any election. I have strong political leanings and I prayed fervently during this election. Last night as I watched the election I thought about the "battleground states." When Ohio was called for Obama I struggled, when Florida fell my heart sank.

Despite my disappointment I woke up this morning thinking about the real battleground state. As children of God we are not battling over Ohio, Pennsylvania or Florida, we are battling over the hearts of men. We are fighting that battle one person at a time. I realized this morning that I spent two years living under a socialist government; I have worked in regions where I have been accompanied by armed military guards hired to protect me and slept in villages where the worst kind of abject poverty was evident. In all of those situations God's people not only survived, they endured, the persevered and grew.

Many today are discouraged. We are concerned about the life of the unborn, about gay rights and homosexual marriage and the socialist slant of the incoming administration. Please, please remember that God's people have the unique ability to excel in the most adverse of situations (Daniel in Babylon; Joseph in Egypt, Christians in Rome). God was honored and exalted under the most brutal and despotic nations our world has ever known.

Some of us woke up thinking, "we lost the election." Last night Florida and Arizona passed legislation stating that marriage is between a man and a woman. Arkansas also sent a blow to the gay rights movement by banning unmarried couples from adoption or being foster parents. Prior to this election 27 states had already passed gay marriage bans and today we await the outcome in California (update: California has also banned gay marriage).

I am reminded of how discouraged Elijah was after fleeing from Jezebel. God reminded Elijah that 7,000 still had not bowed to Baal. There are many who are still fighting the good fight, who oppose moral evils and stand for godly principles. No government, regime or political power can rob from you your faith, your principles and your commitment to stand for Christ and honor his high and holy name.