What Do I Do Now? – Cleveland Church of Christ

“My preferred candidate for __________ (fill in the blank) lost! What do I do now?” Please allow me to make a few suggestions.

Get out of bed. Pray for the candidate that did win (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Obey, to the best of your ability, any laws that are legally passed that do not conflict with God’s laws (Acts 5:29). Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s (Matthew 22:21). Continue to do good and be a law-abiding citizen (Romans 12:1-7), paying your taxes and avoiding conflict and confrontation to the fullest extent possible. Extend respect to the office, regardless of who occupies it. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king (1 Peter 2:13-17). If you are compelled to go one mile, go two. Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:39-48). Go to work and do your job.

“My preferred candidate for _____________ (fill in the blank) won! What do I do now?”

Yes, you read that correctly. Whether your candidate won or lost you do exactly the same thing. It is true that you will probably be better able to do those things with less dread and in a happier frame of mind if your candidate won, but your (and my) responsibilities remain exactly the same. Being a citizen of the United States of America is both an honor and a privilege, but as Christians we must remember that we have a higher calling. As Christians we are citizens of a much greater country (Philippians 3:20) and we have a heavy responsibility to be good representatives of that country during our temporary and transitory time in this country (1 Peter 2:11, 12). Not only are we representatives of that greater country, we are also ambassadors for that higher, heavenly country (2 Corinthians 5:20). An ambassador is one who not only represents his country, but is also responsible for maintaining good relations with the country in which he resides.

We are looking forward to the time when we can actually reside in that city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). Yes, it is a great privilege to be a citizen of the Unites States of America and enjoy the rights and privileges appertaining thereto. But it is a far greater privilege to be a citizen of that heavenly kingdom, where righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13), so that we may live there without having to be concerned with elections, onerous laws, corrupt politicians, taxes, or any of the other things that often make life in this country difficult.

As we go about our lives, regardless of the final outcome of this election, let us remember to “be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little mouth what you say, be careful little hands what you do, and be careful little feet where you go.” Our actions, and reactions, to this or any other election/event could be the catalyst that either saves or loses not only our own soul, but that of another as well.