An All Wise God

This is an email devotion I sent in  November 2016.  It was in my blog's draft box where I found it today.  I thought it appropriate for this time in our election year some four years later.




10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

In this section of Luke Jesus goes from a discussion on the beauty of the temple; to the not so beautiful time in the future.   A time when false leaders will created violence, hatred, suffering, persecution, destruction and war.  

I distinctly remember the last time I was preparing to write a sermon on this text.  It was the assigned Gospel for the Sunday after the 2016 election. It was a most tumultuous   Presidential campaign.  Months of, what I will call, awful. 

The Monday morning, before the election I sat down, with my morning coffee, to read the assigned reading for the week.  As I read Luke 21:5-19, my first thought was: “Is Jesus predicting the outcome of people’s choices in 2016?

Then on the morning after the election, when I finally decided NOT to avoid the news any longer, I finally asked Seri who won the election. After I heard her words, I sat extremely quiet just thinking though my prayers.  Then I wrote my email devotion.

 “Well, it it done!” I began. The votes have been counted!  The people of the United States of America have spoken. And, in this land of the free, the majority wins!

Throughout our long history human choices have often created confusion and chaos.  

That is just the truth!  

It is also true that religion and politics have never mixed well.  However, there is one constant that has proven true. God has proven to be the stronger force.  God seems to have an extraordinary way of working through human choices and decisions. 

The truth is, no matter whether you voted for Hilary or Donald.  One way or another the conversation that week was about choices people made and what our world is coming to.  

And, by the way, that was the very same conversation that occurred, between my parents and others, when I was a senior in high school.  A VERY LONG TIME AGO.

If you voted for Donald you most likely felt relief!

If you voted for Hilary you probably woke up, that morning, in total panic.  I know a lot of people did!  Especially college ages young people!

If you didn’t vote, which many chose not to do, I wonder what you are feeling at this moment.

Either way, what happens does not depend on just one person.  Presidents have come and gone.  Democrats and Republicans will still claim that they are correct.  Both parties will still sling verbal mud to make the other guy look bad.  And the general public will continue to talk about what a mess our government is in.  And how our world is going to hell in a hand basket.

Our foreign neighbors will still be at war!

And the world will turn just like it has for centuries.  

And God will roam the universe being wise.  Working to create order out of all the chaos we make and the actions we take.  Because God has seen it all!  Good kings, bad kings, mean kings, arrogant kings, crazy leader, war and peace. 

God is not dissuaded by the choices people make.  Or the things they do, Or the unfortunate things they say,  Or what they think.  God is so use to digging us out of our little, and big, messes.  And God has proven time and time again that he know best.  

So we can fret and worry and wring our hand until they bleed.  If that is what feels right to you.  

Or, we can open our hands out wide in trust. 

Trust in a God who is ever faithful. 

A God who is all wise.  

And then remember.  Remember back over the centuries of stories.  Stories from The Garden on. 

And remember how, even the worst of situations, were  handled just fine by the Almighty and powerful God. 

The very same God who “chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.  Who chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.  Who chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are. So that no one might boast in the presence of (this amazing) God.  The God who is the source of our lives in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God.” (1 Cor.1:27f)

Jesus, without hesitation, would tells us: “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.  Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matt. 6)

The Psalmist would say it this way: “ The Lord alone is our strength and salvation of what, or whom, shall we be afraid?”

Be clear about this one continuous truth.  We are told over and over again, “Do not fear for I am with you always!”  

And so there is nothing, “Nothing, in all of creation that can separate us from God’s care.”

By your endurance you will gain your souls.

5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." 7 They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" 8 And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, "I am he!' and, "The time is near!' Do not go after them. 9 "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." 10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. 12 "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls. (Luke 21)