Here we are at the Halloween
season once again and I don’t aim to promote or condemn it as such just to make
some observations. It’s a time for what we call “trick or treat,” which used to
mean you pass out treats to those who visited because you wanted to do
something nice for the children in you neighborhood. The visitors dress up in
strange costumes, wear masks, wigs, face paint, etc. You passed out some treat
or you might have your widows smeared with soap or something else as relatively
mild as a consequence. It really was (and sometime still is) a community
activity meant to be enjoyed.
Times have changed through the
years though, for some, what had been a fun time has become a dark and
dangerous time. Kids can’t go out unattended any longer, it’s not safe, there
are human predators stalking our streets seeking to do harm to folks and
property. That doesn’t speak well for our society does it? Many of the “Trick
or Treaters,” have changed also. For some It’s no longer about just having fun
it’s about “what you can get for yourself,” and what kind of destruction you
can cause and the masks and costumes are just a way to hide your identity.
Of course as I was thinking about
this, the current elections came to mind and how much they mirror the
“Halloween Mentality”. It seems that all of those running for some office wear
mask and costumes, trying to hide who they truly are and it seems also more
interested in how holding some office can benefit them and not others. Now, I
imagine that there are some politicians somewhere (I know one personally), who
truly does seek only to help folks and not benefit themselves, but seems a rare
thing. What comforts me in these troubled times is that if God can use ungodly
men like king Nebuchadnezzar, and
the Pharaoh of Egypt to serve his purposes he can still do it today.
Now here is the difficult thing; we don’t know God’s
purpose or his reason for doing things in a certain way. What we do know is
that God is in control and no matter who wins the earthly election, we have
already won the eternal election if we are Christians. 2 Peter 1:5-8, “For this very reason, make
every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to
knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual
affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they
will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ.” Then
in verse 10 & 11 he adds, “Therefore, my brothers
and sisters, make every effort to confirm
your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never
stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
The bottom line is that if we
serve God faithfully, out Election to the eternal kingdom is assured. It’s an
office for life, with no term limits. No masks, no costumes, only the real us
revealed before God. I’m tired already of the earth elections, but excited
about the eternal one, how about you?
