Hope for a Nation

On this historic day, the words "hope" and "pride" will be said countless times as, for better or for worse, Barack H. Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States. Though you may not have voted for him (I didn't) and though you may not think that he is the best person for the job (I don't), we Christians still have reasons to have both hope and pride:

• We can be proud that we live in a nation where the transfer of power from one political party to the next happened in a few bloodless and peaceful minutes.


• We can be proud that only 40 some years since people of other races were denied even the most basic of freedoms, enough Americans have set aside those prejudices to elect a black man. "...since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all." Colossians 3:9b-11


• We can be hopeful, because our God has shown time and again that He can use anyone from donkeys to shepherd boys to work good for those who love Him.


• We can be hopeful, because the fate of the nation rests not in the hands of a chosen few in Washington, but rather with US, the followers of Christ. "...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14


• Finally, we have hope, not in a person or thing of this earth, but in the grace and power of God, who sent His Son to save us from ourselves. No matter what we face as individuals, as Christians or as a country, we have an eternal hope that no circumstance can take away. "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." 2 Corinthians 5:1

We have a great opportunity in the coming years to show our country where true hope and peace can be found. Not in a stable economy, not in a "warless" society, but rather in Almighty God. Let us take the time today to pray for our new President and our nation, that both might be used to bring glory to God here on earth.