Psalm 118:9 (ESV) 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
Psalm 146:3 (ESV) 3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
Every four to eight years, for the last 240 years, we have gone through what is, in our country, the ordinary, the natural, and the common place, the peaceful transition of power from one president to another. But it is also extraordinary, and nearly miraculous, transition of power. What we experience here, in the United States of America is unheard of in much of the world today. It is also true that presidential elections and campaigning have often been tumultuous exercises testing a nation’s heart and resolve. Since the growing reality of the internet and talk radio, this is even much more the case, and we have become a much more divided nation. While I found this process of presidential elections over the years more and more contentious, what has caused me even greater concern is our total trust in victorious leaders we may have voted for in a particular election. In many cases, I believe, this kind of inordinate trust is there because of the emotional treasure that we expend in the process and in some cases the misplaced decision making process and voting that looks more like our calling a pastor to shepherd a flock rather than a person to hold a political office.
Yesterday, as I watched the historical pageantry of the inauguration of Donald Trump, I found myself reflecting on this phenomenon of unreserved and undeserved trust in a man, any man. It seems that every election cycle I hear how this election is the “most important in our life time.” And frankly, I felt this year’s election was certainly pivotal for our nation. I wondered if the blessings of God upon us would continue or were we under His chastisement and/or judgment. The multiple difficult and dangerous issues of our times and two very flawed candidates only exacerbated my concerns.
During this election season, I found myself on multiple occasions asking myself how I would deal with the outcome of the election. I wondered from time to time if I had not succumbed to trusting in man rather than our Lord. While I knew the answer to question I still wondered about my reaction to the outcome of the election. Would I worry and fret
over a bad result and on the other side would I place an unbalanced hope for the future in the candidate I voted for?
The first election that I was actively engaged politically in, was the election of Ronald Reagan. Throughout his years as president I found myself happy with many things he accomplished and disappointed with others. I realized that he’s only a man and a flawed man, as we all are. I had expended a great deal of time, treasure, and emotional energy in his election. . As a result, it took some time for me to realize, through disappointments, that even temporal hope is not to be found in man but in the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:27).
It is important, as believers, to be involved citizens, as light in a darkened world, especially, as we consider the welfare of those who will follow us in this life. And the responsibilities and duties as citizens are central to that process. But this world is not our home and we need to be careful we are not planting emotional and life directional roots in that which shall perish (1 Corinthians 2:6; 2 Peter 3:10).
The one thing we can be certain of, is that God is the author of human government (Romans 13:1-2,4; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13) and as Godly citizens we are to be in subjection to its laws for obedience and conscience sake (Romans 13:5) until they conflict with God’s law.
I am cautiously optimistic, and with some issues, relieved about our new President and will pray for him, as I obediently did for President Obama in the past (1 Timothy 2:1-2). In many ways, the church may have dodged a bullet, for the time being, but President Trump, no matter how successful or unsuccessful he may be, is not the one in whom I place my hope. That is reserved for the Lord Jesus Christ.
-Michael Holtzinger