The American people have made their decision or have they? I am not quite sure. Who do we trust when it comes to the truth about these matters? Apparently, our media is not trustworthy. If that is true, then where is one left to find the truth these days?
I gather we could look to an alternative news outlet online and see what we can dig up. The truth of the matter is God will grant authority to the next President of the United States of America. If it truly was not the will of the people that Donald Trump be President or Joe Biden, then there is one truth that we can all confidently rest in the peaceful knowledge of, and that is: God’s permissive will has allowed our current situation to be what it is.
As I write, I am reminded of some sage like wisdom from the great Academy Award winning movie, Chariots of Fire, the true story about the 1924 Paris Olympics. In that movie, there is a powerful scene where the great runner and devout Christian, Eric Liddell, declares before the Prince of Wales the following bold proclamation:
“God made countries, God makes kings, and the rules by which they govern.”
Whether he said them or not, they certainly jive with Christ’s own words as He stands before Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, “You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above” (John 19:11).
So God grants authority to Presidents, Kings, Governors, Mayors and yes, even our bosses. What are we left to do? We are left to pray, fast, encourage and stand ready to hold our elected officials, even appointed superiors, to the standards, duties and responsibilities that are contained in the office they hold and charged by God to fulfill.
In the November Magnificat issue, there was a powerful excerpt on the Thanksgiving Day meditation, which I would like to share in this piece for clarification on just how an elected official, like a US President, should conduct his affairs while in office. This is taken from the first national Thanksgiving Proclamation as issued by Congress in 1777:
Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received, and to implore such farther blessings as they stand in need of: And it having pleased him in abundant mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable bounties of his common providence; but also to smile upon us…for the defense and establishment of our unalienable rights and liberties…it is therefore recommended to the legislative and executive powers of these United States to set apart Thursday…for solemn thanksgiving and praise:
…To inspire our commanders, both by land and sea, and all under them, with that wisdom and fortitude which may render them fit instruments, under the providence of Almighty God, to secure for these United States the greatest of all human blessings, independence and peace; that it may please him,…to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety, under his nurturing hand; and to prosper the means of religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth, ‘in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit.’
Truly remarkable that our nation’s founding legislative officers, had this profound understanding of their role in light of Providence. I am not certain that either President Donald Trump or a President Joe Biden, or whomever it might be when the dust settles, truly understands their office the way our Founding Fathers once did. Be that as it may, it is clear to me that God’s Holy Will, will be accomplished. God can use whomever He chooses to do His Holy Will, even those who are supposedly unfit for office.
Like you, I pray that whomever sits in the Oval Office come the end of January, whether it be incumbent President Donald Trump or Joe Biden, begins his tasks for the next four years with profound gratitude for the opportunity which Providence has afforded him. I pray that he bases his executive decisions and fulfillment of his executive duties with the knowledge that God is his greatest aid in assisting him in governing with wisdom and rendering him truly as a ‘fit instrument’ for the office he has been so-called elected to fill.
Your brother in Christ,
Mark
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