Election Day--2008

I'll admit that the political/election situation worries me.

But, as the writer of Ecclesiastes so elequently put it thousands of years ago, "That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun." 1:9

The situation our country is in is nothing new. The Israelites cried out for a king to judge them and go out before them and fight their battles. The Lord granted them their desire, but He commanded Samuel to warn them.

"So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king. And he said, 'This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. He will appoint captains over his thousands, and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day." I Samuel 8:10-18


As Christians, we must keep in mind that this world is not our home, even though it is scary sometimes here on earth and difficult to keep our minds on the goal of heaven. David stated that, "...the floods of ungodliness..." made him afraid(Psalm 18:4). Though the times we live in are troublesome and uncertain, it helps me to remember the following words of our Lord:

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" -Psalm 118:6

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." -Psalm 118:8

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage." -Psalm 84:5

"When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." -Psalm 61:2b

"Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved." -Psalm 62:1-2

"Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect." -Psalm 33:8-10


God knows everything, and I know nothing. I wonder if we will be able to ask questions in heaven? I hope so! I have several ranging from, "How did all the animals fit into the ark?" and "Were dinosaurs tame?" to "Why did certain people rise to power?" and "What was Your purpose for letting certain events occur?".

"Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men." -Psalm 9:20

"The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God." -Psalm 12:2

"In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him." -Ecclesiastes 7:14

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch over the evil and the good." -Proverbs 15:3

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

There is a Habitation

There is a habitation built by the living God for all of ev'ry nation who seek that grand abode.

O Zion, Zion, I long thy gates to see! O Zion, Zion, when shall I dwell in thee?

A city with foundations firm as th'eternal throne; nor wars nor desolations shall ever move a stone. No night is there, no sorrow. No death, and no decay. No yesterday, no morrow. But one eternal day.

by: J.H. Rosecrans


Here We Are but Straying Pilgrims
Here we are but straying pilgrims, here our path is often dim. But to cheer us on our journey, still we sing this wayside hymn. Yonder over the rolling river where the shining mansions rise. Soon will be our home for ever and the smile of the blessed Giver gladdens all our longing eyes.

Here our feet are often weary on the hills that throng our way. Here the tempest darkly gathers but our hearts within us say, Yonder over the rolling river where the shining mansions rise. Soon will be our home forever, and the smile of the blessed Giver gladdens all our longing eyes.

Here our souls are often fearful of the pilgrim's lurking foe, but the Lord is our defender, and He tells us we may know, Yonder over the rolling river where the shining mansions rise. Soon will be our home forever, and the smile of the blessed Giver gladdens all our longing eyes.

by: W.G. Perkins