God Is Still on His Throne

Tabernacle Advent Christian Church

1522 Wildwood Rd, Lenoir, NC

Dear Tabernacle church family,

Yesterday was election day. I know some of you woke up this morning encouraged. Some of you woke up discouraged. And some of you are just plain tired of all of it. Whatever you're carrying today, I wanted to write to you as your pastor. Not about politics. About something much steadier than politics.

Just a few weeks ago we sat together with Jesus' words in John 14:

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don't let your heart be troubled or fearful." (John 14:27)

That promise didn't expire yesterday. So let me remind you of what has not changed.

God is still in control. No election has ever surprised him. No result has ever caught him off guard. Daniel tells us,

"He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings." (Daniel 2:21)

And Proverbs puts it this way:

"A king's heart is like channeled water in the Lord's hand: He directs it wherever he chooses." (Proverbs 21:1)

Think about that! The most powerful leader on earth is like a stream of water in God's hand.

Christ is still King. Before he returned to the Father, Jesus said, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). All of it. His name is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" (Revelation 19:16). That was true before yesterday. It's true today. And it will be true long after every officeholder is forgotten. Our hope was never meant to rest on who sits in an office. It rests on who sits on the throne.

So what does God ask of us? Scripture is clear, and it doesn't give us an exception for the people we disagree with.

We pray for them. Paul writes, "I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Not only the ones we voted for. All of them. And with thanksgiving.

We honor them. "Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor" (1 Peter 2:17). When Peter wrote those words, the emperor was Nero, a man who would later put Christians to death. And Peter still said, honor him.

We submit to them. "Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God" (Romans 13:1).

And we guard our words. Titus 3 calls us "to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people" (Titus 3:2). That includes how we talk about our leaders, and how we talk to each other about them, at the dinner table and online.

These commands are for our good. God doesn't give them to weigh us down. He gives them to set us free from anger, from fear, and from putting our hope in the wrong place. Listen to the promise attached to our prayers:

"so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:2-4)

A quiet life. A godly life. And a gospel that goes forward! Our prayers for our leaders are tied to God's heart for the lost. And when we do good, Peter says, we "silence the ignorance of foolish people" (1 Peter 2:15). When Christians honor authority and speak with gentleness, the world sees something different. It sees the King we serve.

So church, take heart. If you're anxious today, this is for you:

"God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble." (Psalm 46:1)

And here is exactly what to do with that anxiety:

"Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

That's what we need this week. Not more news. More of his peace.

So here is what I'm asking of you. Pray for our leaders by name. Speak about them with honor, even when you disagree. And love your neighbor, even the one who voted differently than you did. Remember who we are: "our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). We are one church family, and no election changes that.

God is still in control. Christ is still King. And he is still good.

I love you, and I'm praying for you.

In Christ,

Pastor Josh Baker

Tabernacle Advent Christian Church