Its local election day!

"And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel...his sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.  Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and they said to him, 'Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways.  Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.'........(Samuel was upset so he prayed to God)......The Lord said to Samuel, 'Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.'"

-1 Samuel 8:1-7

Currently as I sit here at my keyboard, there are tons of people here at our church for local/precinct voting and there are even more vehicles in the parking lot.  Many are so driven by politics in our society that its crazy! (This is certainly not to disparage voting, as it is our civic duty, but people seem to put far too many eggs into the 'political basket' these days.)

I went and introduced myself to one of the gentlemen leading the event here and immediately after greeting him and letting him know I was the pastor, without hesitation his first question to me was, 'Are you voting Republican or Democrat?'  And this wasn't a question said in humor....

All you have to do is check your social media feed and you'll see one political rant after another and all the reasons why such-and-such establishment is right or wrong and/or which political figure will be the next 'savior' of all the problems in our country.  It seems to go on and on without hesitation or potential of ending peacefully.

God had set His chosen people up to be ruled by Him under the shepherding of priests.  However, as time passed on, the people required judges and then when they weren't enough the people clamored and complained for an established king over them 'like all the nations.'  They wanted to be ruled like every other pagan nation around them.  "God, this isn't fair!  Why can't we have what they have?"  In 1 Samuel 8 (above), sure, Samuel's sons acted sinfully and, for lack of a better phrase, became corrupt politicians, but the people still had no right to reject God's design for governance.  Yet, they brought their complaint to Samuel, rejected God, and called for their own human king.  

Samuel, as I'm sure any of us would have, took it personally and became highly upset.  He brought the situation and his concerns to God in prayer and God led him to give the people what they want.  Where have we heard that before?  In rejecting God's leadership and governing design, the people would get in the following centuries corrupt politics, pagan practices, failed politicians (many kings failed them), and a divided kingdom.  

Moral of the story?  Yes, it is our civic duty to vote and to have our Christian voices heard in politics - but let's not forget that these we are voting for are sinful people just like we are.  No politician or governing authority is going to establish a man-made heaven or 'future eternal kingdom' on this earth, ever.  The only true King we are to turn to as Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ.  Christian, as you vote, don't forget Who the true Savior is.