Right now, the whole world is scrambling to find an answer for all the chaos happening around the globe. Financial collapses, natural disasters, wars, poverty, famine…the list is endless.
Many are looking for someone—anyone—to come in and rescue us from the disaster. Frantically, candidates in the election are making plans and stating policies that could save the economy and deliver us from a shaking that is occurring across the land.
We look for answers, pray, and vote, and yet is there anyone who can save us? Yes, we need a righteous leader, but is anyone righteous?
This cry is rising up inside of me, “Lord, awaken a hunger for righteousness in this land!” We don’t even know what righteousness looks like. As in Hosea’s day, there is no fear of the Lord or knowledge of God in the land (Hosea 4:1). We ask for righteous leaders and yet, we are so unaware of the wickedness of man that we don’t know our right hand from our left (Jonah 4:11).
The only leader who offers a standard of righteousness is Jesus. He is the only one able to lead a nation or nations out of darkness into light. Yet, like the people of Israel, we ask for a king—Saul, when God intended for us to have a David (I Sam. 8).
I’m not talking about a political party or a candidate here. I am talking about a Man, who is God. His name is Jesus. He is coming back. He is returning to rule the earth as king. Why else did He tell us to pray “Thy kingdom come…”? (Matt. 6, Luke 11)
Our hearts are longing for a king, but we will never find it in a human, except for the God-Man. Yet, the Lord told us to pray for those who are in authority over us (I Tim. 2). He also commanded all throughout the Bible for Israel to humble themselves, call on His name, and He would heal their land (Joel 2, Jeremiah 33, etc.).
So, as the church what do we do? First of all, we realize that our fight is not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers in heavenly places (Eph. 6). Our place is seated with Christ in heavenly places far above those powers (Eph. 2). Therefore, our dominion and authority are far above the earth and principalities. We have to take our place in Christ and make intercession for our land.
Secondly, we have to set our eyes on the coming hope of Jesus’ return. We should look with joy anticipating His coming kingdom. We have to realize that nothing will be made right until He returns. All creation is groaning for this to happen (Rom. 8:22).
Yes, we vote, but in case you haven’t noticed—no human being is going to keep this world from the chaotic downward spiral it is going in, except Jesus. He will return and establish His kingdom on earth.
As followers of Jesus, we need to have clarity in the time that everyone is looking for answers. The Bible told us the world would get this way. It shouldn’t surprise us. It is time for us to offer the hope of a coming reign of One who is worthy to open the scrolls and loose the seals (Rev. 5).
When everything is crashing down around us, we have to lift up our eyes and cry out for mercy, knowing that all of this is in God’s plan that the whole earth would bow their head and bend their knee to confess that Jesus is Lord (Psalm 123, Rev. 7). We also have to set our eyes on the hope of the coming reign and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We want to be a pure and spotless Bride, who has made herself ready (Rev. 19:7).
We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, yet He has sent His Son as a ransom for many (Mk 10:45). It is time that we fall on our faces and plead His blood over our nation, knowing that He is our only hope.
Bless you.
Amanda
Copyright © 2010, Amanda Rich, All Rights Reserved
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