The Weight of the Word

I don't want to be political. I'm really not trying to be. But my heart was saddened today. I know it often can be if one spends too much time invested in politics, but today my heart was saddened because of the Word of God being a spontaneous prop in a campaign.

I listened to a Francis Chan sermon this morning on my run/walk. I heard him talk about Isaiah 6. I heard him talk about God. I know that might not sound like a big deal, but that's kinda the point. And it definitely was a big deal. It was a weighty, humbling sermon.

There was a moment on the run this morning when I had to just stop because tears strolled down my face and my knees got weak. As I heard Francis read from Isaiah and then discuss it, I was reminded of how holy God is, how sinful I am, and what an honor  it is to be able to come before Him in prayer. We've become so casual about talking to God or about God in our culture that we often forget how holy he is, we often forget who he really is. He is God and there is no other.

And then I got home and saw news that Donald Trump flippantly threw out that the Bible was his favorite book. (It might be, but if it truly was, his character would reflect it. And I have yet to see the fruit of the Spirit displayed in him and have yet to understand why he ranks so high among evangelicals.) But it was clearly used to just gain supporters. It made my heart so sad. It angered me that someone would toss around the Bible like It has no weight.

The Bible is the Word of God. It holds more power then any politician can fathom. It transforms lives more than any government program ever will. It provides more hope than any political party can even try to give. 

My God will not be mocked. He is good and faithful, just and holy. He is kind and compassionate, loving and merciful. And He is so very patient. 

The name of God and the Word of God cannot be leveraged for political success. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the Church today remains on His throne and His Word remains living and active. No amount of political upheaval or governmental chaos will change who God is or the weight of His Word. And tonight, I can sleep soundly because of that. May we wake tomorrow and remember the magnificent holiness of our God and approach Him with fear and reverence. Because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, not the fear of the government or a politician.