Don’t Lose Hope This Political Season!
October 24, 2016
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Every four years, our country goes through a season in which it seems every effort is made to divide Americans and separate them into two major categories: red and blue, Republican and Democrat, right and wrong. I am, of course, talking about election season. Sadly, Americans are exposed to round-the-clock news coverage of divisive attacks and mudslinging—and this presidential election has probably been the worst in the history of our nation.
The attempt to build walls of discord and disunity is as old as the creation of the world. When Satan deceived the first man and woman, which caused them to disobey God, their sin separated them from a life of fellowship and unity with God in the Garden of Eden. The Lord still loved them. No doubt about that. However, there is always a consequence to our sin.
Sin—wrongdoing by disobeying God’s Word—not only separates us from God, but it also separates us from each other.
It’s the root cause of the hatred and “us versus them” mentality that is so rampant in our country today. This division—these walls of hostility—exist all over the world. Between brothers and sisters, neighbors, churches, political parties, husbands and wives, parents and children, coworkers, and former friends.
It must grieve the very heart of God when He looks down upon people who were made in His image, and yet despise each other and create barriers between one another.
In Ephesians 2:11-22, the apostle Paul talks about the division that existed between Jews and Gentiles. He uses this to build upon and to illustrate the separation we have from God before we accept Christ. He says that before we become reconciled to God through His Son, Christ Jesus, we were “excluded from citizenship” in God’s Kingdom; “foreigners to the Covenants” (God’s truth); and without hope. (See verse 12.)
The good news is that peace is possible!
In this passage of Scripture, we find the word “peace” three times. Here is what we learn about peace…which is the key to bringing down the walls of hostility in our hearts and in our nation:
- Jesus is our peace. Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” Peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is the bringing together of two entities to become one. Peace means being whole—nothing broken or missing; inseparable. Through Christ’s selfless act on the cross to die for the sins of the world, He has become our peace.
- Jesus is making peace. Ephesians 2:15b-16 says, “His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” The Bible teaches that we are one in Christ. The problem is that Satan loves to create division and prejudice. However, Jesus Christ is the ultimate peacemaker and reconciler. He abolishes enmity and hostility. Hallelujah!
- Jesus preached peace. Ephesians 2:17-18 says, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Jesus preached peace no matter how close a person was to God through their observance of the Law, or how far away they were from Him through their sin. He went through the towns of Israel to share the good news of His coming. And in fact, the prophet Isaiah preached about Jesus long before He arrived, saying, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
In this political season and always, don’t lose hope! Jesus Christ is the hope of the nations, and the only way to break down impossible walls and to usher in peace.
