Our Dual Citizenship
By now, you might know the final results. At the time of writing, I do not know the results. We are past the ads that cloud our screens and clutter our mailboxes. No more public debates are leaving the country convinced of their own positions and candidates. Some of you are breathing a sigh of relief. Some of you are not relieved at all. There are and will be many questioning the effectiveness of the winner. Many will be or should be rightfully concerned about the moral compass of the winner and where he leads the country. There is something that every Christian ought to remember, believe, and trust when those final ballots come.
Whether the person you voted for won or not, the person who actually sits in the victor’s seat did not do so by his own might, authority, or goodness; but is placed there by God for His purposes (Romans 13:1, 4). Whether the person you voted for won or not, the leaders of this country are to be honored, and they should find us only doing good in the world (1 Peter 2:13-17). Whether the person you voted for won or not, we should praise the good done by our leaders and mourn all wickedness and evil that they promote, but we ought not to curse them (Romans 13:4a; Ecclesiastes 10:20a). Whether the person you voted for won or not, as the church we should pray for our leaders’ well-being that we might live peaceful and quiet lives, “godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:2). Whether the person you voted for won or not, we should not be an obstacle to them exercising the role God has given them (Romans 13:3-4). Whether the person you voted for won or not, be the best citizen of the world as you can be for the sake of your conscience and God’s name among the nations (Romans 13:5; 1 Peter 2:16).
Whether the person you voted for won or not, if you are a Christian you belong to Jesus and live in His kingdom (Colossians 1:13-14). If you belong to Jesus, your citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:7). If you belong to Jesus, your King’s kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). If you belong to Jesus, your King sits on the throne above all worldly authority (Psalm 2; Romans 13:1; Ephesians 1:20-21). If you belong to Jesus, treasure in your heart His commands to love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). If you belong to Jesus, know that one day He will return and consummate His kingdom (Revelation 22:20). If you belong to Jesus, whether the person you voted for won or not, you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). If you belong to Jesus, you have boundless hope because Jesus will not allow the gates of hell to prevail against His church (Matthew 16:18). Kingdoms will pass away, but “the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ” will remain forever (Revelation 11:15).
Christian, the election will be over soon. We will have the answers to the ever-changing political climate in our nation. But, the Lord’s rule over His church and the world does not change. Christian, in light of the grace of our Lord, be a good citizen in the world. Christian, in light of the grace of our Lord, let your love and obedience be a sweet scent to those around you that your ultimate citizenship is in heaven. – Ethan Fordham