Election Day Meditation

On Tuesday, millions of Americans will go out to their local church, fire department, school, or town hall to cast their vote for who they think will be the best leaders in the government. I think we can all agree that this election is one of the most important facing our country in quite a while. Barack Obama comes to the plate with his youthful vigor, fresh face, and ideas of change. John McCain brings years of experience and public service along with a proven streak of crossing party lines to do the right thing. On Tuesday we will all go to the polls and vote for one of these two, unless you are voting third party to stick it to the man. Here’s what I want to emphasize however: one of these two men is getting elected based on what the majority of the states find most appealing. If Obama is elected, it will likely be because of some quality or characteristic that the country believes he has, and vice versa for McCain. In other words, their election is conditional.

I probably don’t have to remind you that our election is unconditional. And I’m not talking about any political election now. I’m talking about salvation. We are all familiar with the term “unconditional election.” It’s how we were saved and brought to love Christ. Our election is a lot different than McCain’s or Obama’s however.

Sure, there was an election day. The Bible says that we were predestined unto salvation before the foundation of the world. But there was no campaigning. We didn’t get to parade around in front of God and try to bribe, buy, or lie our way into salvation. There were no campaign promises. Sure, there was a vote, but we didn’t get to vote on our salvation. God did. Most importantly, our election was and is and will be unconditional: i.e. not based on anything we have ever done or anything we ever are or will be. Not on our personality, not on our abilities, not on our gifts, and not because we are the best ones to fit into His plan. If that were the case, he probably would not have chosen you or me. And all this is to show the wonderful power of God. So go to your polling place today, thank God for you freedom to vote, and vote for whoever you think is the best. But remember that God is in charge, and real change in America will only come as God uses those people that he chose for no particular reason other than his great love for us. We would do well to remember that.