*Post-election angst is prevalent everywhere. It’s like a court arraignment and America has to answer to an indictment.
The election of Donald Trump and Mike Pence – which I’ve coined “Trumpence” – came as a surprise to everyone. In 2015 when Trump announced his candidacy for president, we pretty much dismissed it as a farce.
Surely “The Donald” could never be president. That measure of impossibility hovered over President Obama’s campaign too, but God has the final say. As the “potter” He fashions vessels for His honor or for dishonor.
People are scratching their heads wondering how after a stellar (not perfect) Obama administration, can a person seemingly so unhinged now become the commander-in-chief of the most powerful office on the globe. How can this be?
Can you say the word “disobedience?” In this day and age, it may look differently, but as in ancient days God warned His people about idolatry, and because of disobedience he punished them. God gives us the opportunity to judge ourselves, to examine ourselves and make sure we are seeking to follow His commands. He has set standards (precepts) for us to abide by, but we keep lowering more and more those standards; and now look at where we are!
God is a jealous God in the sense that why would people glorify the created more than the creator? We as a society glorify money, sex, entertainment, our jobs, our families, drugs etc. more than we do the things of God. When we hold anything in higher esteem than God, it’s called idolatry. How many times have you been prompted in the spiritual, but decide to still go your own way in the natural? God is patient and longsuffering (extending grace and mercy), but the day comes for discipline.
Remember as kids we’d act up and our parents would repeat, “you better stop” but we kept acting up ignoring their warnings until finally came the day of judgement and discipline. Those “whoopin’s” were not pleasant! Why do parents chasten children? Because they love them and don’t want them to place themselves in harm’s way of some sort. Likewise, God chastens His children whom He loves.
God is asking us to restrain; to turn away from those things that go against His will. Jeremiah 27:2 reads “This is what the Lord said to me: “Make a yoke, and fasten it on your neck with leather straps.” He wants us to do it on our own freewill, but there will be severe consequence if we don’t.
Jeremiah 27:5-7 reads “With my great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose. Now I will give your countries to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who is my servant. I have put everything, even the wild animals, under his control. All the nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until his time is up.”
Could this “Trumpence” era be God’s way of getting us to focus on Him and not empty idols? May we now take time to examine ourselves as a people and as a nation. God help us!
Larry Buford is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer. Author of “Things Are Gettin’ Outta Hand” (Steuben Pub) www.amazon.com. E-mail: [email protected] Visit the author at www.larrybuford.com. (213) 220-8101
