Dear Friends,

As I write this blog, it is Election Day. Much will be made of the results of today’s elections, and there will likely be some significant changes that come out of the newly re-distributed House and Senate. As Americans, we love the logic behind “cause and effect” arguments, and we also relish the sense that, by voting, we somehow control our own fate as a nation. I am very grateful for our rights and for our liberties as Americans.

However, as my journey through the Old Testament reading has recently taken me through Ecclesiastes, I have continued to be struck by God’s sovereignty in the world in the midst of apparent injustice or randomness. The themes of Ecclesiastes could be a summary of the headlines on the evening news:  people work hard for earthly wealth, people fall victim to horrible disaster, people are part of corrupt schemes that affect many innocents, people stress the value of good relationships and healthy living, people die and their children squander their wealth, etc., etc. 

As much as we’d like to think that as “people,” we have control, or as much as we’d like to think that certain, “American,” formulas always hold true, the Old Testament reminds us that God’s ways are not our ways, and that our own wisdom, hard work, and ingenuity can only take us as far as He allows them to.  He is about His business on earth – both individually in our lives and corporately in the life of our nation and of our world.  As Solomon concluded in Ecclesiastes 12:13 – 14 (NIV), “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 

As you move forward in your personal life, and as we move forward as a nation, let us remember to bow before God, because He IS God and to honor Him with our lives is the most important thing that we can do as humans.

Blessings,

Ron