Where Do We Go From Here?

I received this in my e-mail the other day and it sure reminded me of who I am!!
Thought you might find these words encouraging from a brother in Christ.


Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2008, 2:45 PM
Where Do We Go From Here?
November 5, 2008

Before you read this, I have two favors to ask. Number one, please read the entire piece. I know it’s a little long, and you may disagree with some of what I say, but I believe it’s worth your time. Number two, pause, take a deep breath, and say a prayer of thanks to God. Thank Him for His love for you. Thank Him for sending His Son to die for your sins. Thank Him for allowing you to be His child and to be called “Christian.” And thank Him for His bountiful blessings that He showers us with each and every day. Go ahead, pray right now. I’ll wait.

So…, the election is over and a winner has been declared. Some of you are very happy and joyful right now. Some of you are unhappy and upset. In fact, some of you are downright afraid. It’s been there a while, that fear, even before the election. I’ve seen it in your faces, heard it in your voices. You worried what would happen if it turned out the way you didn’t want. You fretted over the future with a leader you didn’t want. Now that the results are in, it seems your fears are confirmed and you are imagining the worst. “What’s going to happen now?” and “What does the future hold?” are questions that you’re groping to find the answers to. As Christians, where do we go from here? What do we do?

1. We pray. Many of us have been praying since the campaigning started last year. We’ve prayed that the right man would be chosen; that the man chosen would seek God’s face and wisdom as he leads. Why should we stop doing that now? The Holy Spirit teaches us to pray for our leaders and all in authority. "First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,"- I Timothy 2:1-3

If you’re worried about what decisions the new president will make, what policies he will try to enact, what direction he will take this country in, then pray for him! Pray hard. Pray that the president and the congress will look to God for guidance, that they will seek to do His will. Some of you may even be viewing the new president (and congress and governors, etc.) as an enemy; diametrically opposed to everything you believe in and stand for. Jesus teaches us to “love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you”.- (Matthew 5:44) So keep praying. If you believe the new president isn’t the kind of man he needs to be, pray that he will change. Pray that he will be shown the truth, that he will accept it and live and govern and lead as God would have him to. We’ve also prayed that God’s will would be done in all things. We have the results. Do we accept that as God’s will? If we practice what we preach, we should. And we should pray that we continue to accept His will in all things (Matthew 6:10; 26:42). Pray, pray, pray.

2. We remember that God is in control. If we accept that what has happened is God’s will, then we realize that He’s in control. “… for God is King of all the earth.”- Psalm 47:7 God’s plan has been working since day one, even when humans tried to mess it up. (See Genesis 3) Realizing that God is in control means we need to remember that God often uses what we would consider “bad things” to accomplish His will. Joseph was sold into slavery (a bad thing) in order to save his family later (a good thing) and preserve the lineage of the Messiah (a great thing). God used the enemies of His people to attack and kill many of them (a bad thing) in order to bring them back to God (a good thing). Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross (a horrible thing) in order to save us from our sins (the most wonderful thing of all). Maybe (and I mean maybe, because I don’t know the future nor the immediate plans of God) God is trying to give us a “wake up call” as He often did to the Israelites. Perhaps God’s patience has run out and He intends to punish this nation for its sinfulness. I don’t know, but if so, remember He’s still in control. And, if that punishment does come…

3. We will not be afraid. God may very well want and need to punish this nation. For many years now, this country has been steadily moving away from God and more towards sin and Satan. But as Christians, as those trying to follow His will, as those who have committed their lives to living for Him, we should not be afraid because He has promised to take care of us and be with us. “Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:9

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”- Isaiah 41:10

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don't worry about tomorrow,… ”- Matthew 6:33-34a

“...for He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ Therefore, we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”- Hebrews 13:5b-6

“...And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”- Matthew 28:20b

If God does indeed punish this nation, faithful Christians may suffer some of the consequences. The righteous often suffer with the unrighteous. But we should never be afraid of what the future holds. Rather we should rejoice over our future reward. “In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.”- 2 Timothy 4:8

4. Pray for forgiveness and for the nation to return to God. If God brings (or is already bringing) punishment on this nation for its sins, we need to once again hit our knees and pray. Pray that God would turn His wrath away from this nation. (See Psalm 106:23; Daniel 9:16) Pray that the nation would repent of its sins. Pray that we would realize we need God, that we must follow Him and do His will. “Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord- the people He has chosen to be His own possession!”- Psalm 33:12

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people”- Proverbs 14:34

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful.”- James 5:16

5. Be a Christian. It doesn’t matter who the president is, who’s in congress, or even what kind of government we have. Our first loyalty is to God and His will. His word teaches us to be a Christian no matter where we are or what we are doing. “And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”- Colossians 3:17

“Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men,”- Colossians 3:23

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”- Matthew 6:33a

Remember Daniel and the three young men who served God faithfully even though they were captives in a Godless country. Remember Paul and the early Christians who served Christ even though they lived under a decadent Roman rule and were eventually persecuted and many put to death by that same government. Remember your brothers and sisters in foreign lands who do not enjoy the religious freedoms we do, who must worship in secret or in the midst of great hardship. If they can be faithful under those extreme circumstances, so can we, even if we eventually face those same circumstances.

Those of you who know me personally know that I am an eternal optimist. It takes a lot to get me down and into a depressed frame of mind. I don’t know what the next four years will be like for this country. I don’t know if we will continue down the path of sin or if we will wake up and, as a nation, turn our hearts back to God. I don’t know what the world will be like in the future for my two beautiful and precious children. What I do know is that I am saved, by the Grace of God and the gift of His son, Jesus Christ and His precious blood shed for me as are all faithful and obedient Christians. I know that He’s in control of all things and that He has promised to be with me, guide me, help me, and strengthen me. I know that I will do my very best to live faithfully for Him, that I will teach the children He’s blessed me with to love Him and keep His commandments. I know that I will continue to share the knowledge of Jesus with others so that those who are lost can be saved from their sins and have a home in heaven one day. I know that I will continue to pray for this nation and its leaders to govern well and to seek God in their leading. I will pray that as a nation, we will return to God, confess our sins to Him and beg His forgiveness and mercy. And I will continue to thank Him for His everlasting love for me.

Randy Missildine, Minister
Waynesboro Church of Christ
wabopreacher@bellsouth.net



May God Bless You Today!!!!
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28
"If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31