If Today Were the Last Day of Your Life

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If today were the last day of your life

you wouldn’t spend it fretting in anxiety about an election outcome over which you have no control;

you wouldn’t foment a sense of outrage at people who have the wrong facts, opinions, and ideas;

you wouldn’t frantically refresh your newsfeeds to see what’s changed in the last 4 minutes.

 

If today were the last day of your life

you’d savor every sip of your coffee;

you’d smile at the sight of every human face, considering it a great privilege just to be in that person’s presence;

and

you’d be grateful to God for every breath you had left.

 
 
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
— Jesus of Nazareth

Election Day 2020: 3 Truths

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If you are a Christian, here are three truths to keep in mind this Election Day 2020.

 
 

Being Right Is Less Important Than Loving the People Who Are Wrong

Politics matters. It’s because of politics that we have hot water at the tap, paved airport runways, and a court system. Politics is how we live together in peace. Civilization is not inevitable, and it is politics that makes it possible.

Politics is important, which means argument and persuasion and ideas are also important.

Good ideas will lead to human flourishing; bad ideas will lead to human misery. Ideas matter! It’s important that we have the right ideas.

BUT

As a Christian, I know that being right is less important than loving people who are wrong. Don’t give up your ideas, but also don’t let them tempt you into hatred, contempt, or condescension.

So, this election don’t be so consumed with having the right political ideas that you forget to love—i.e., to actively will the good—of the people who are wrong. Even the ones who are voting the wrong way!

 
 

Sometimes Losing Is Winning

There is a tremendous temptation to give way to despair if your side or issue or candidate doesn’t win. Resist that temptation!

Life is inherently unpredictable; each of us knows countless examples of things that seemed like setbacks at the time only to later turn out for the best.

On Good Friday, it looked like Jesus had been defeated, but on Easter Sunday it was clear he had actually won—through losing!

If your candidate or issue or side loses this Election Day, why not ask the Lord to use the apparent defeat to set up a future victory?

 
 

It’s Possible to be Happy Even In Difficult Circumstances

Don’t believe the lie that it’s not possible to be happy if your circumstances (political or otherwise) are imperfect.

Happiness comes from finding the goodness of God in your everyday circumstances right now.

Let’s try it.