“Now, what’s wrong with this picture? Simply put, the people of God feel nervous if all they have is God. So they’re fawning before the bullies of worldly power, that’s what’s wrong. Today we profess that we have taken refuge in the King of kings and Lord of lords. At the same time we sometimes stoop to curry favor with politicians and earthly powers, as if the safety of the church depended on human protection and political favor. Do we demonstrate confidence that the Lord himself, and the Lord alone, is our power, our security, our boast? Human politics is an honorable calling, of course, but we dishonor our Lord if we feel naked when surrounded with his care only. Some Christians wrap the cross in our national flag. Granted, citizenship in a human nation is a meaningful dimension of this life, even though the nations are only specks of dust to God (Isa. 40:15). But Jesus Christ did not come to this earth so that we could subordinate his eternal kingdom to any human cause. Nations rise and fall. And rather than panic with those who have no hope firmer than Election Day victories, we who name Christ as Lord should present to the world living validation of his all-sufficiency, come what may … Courageous emotional detachment from human approval is the natural outcome of strong spiritual attachment to God.”
– ray ortlund
Reflection:
It isn’t only political outcomes upon which our sense of security rises and falls, but that certainly feels like a powerful driver in our day. God’s people have always been tempted to put their trust in human leaders, powerful positions, and military might. But time and time again, the Bible warns us against placing our trust anywhere except in God alone.
When we get our hearts wrapped around the glory of God, then we are more than conquerors. There is no world where God loses, so to have our hopes in Him makes us invincible. Every other power and institution in this world may fall, and that is why placing our hope there and pouring out our energy there is vanity. But the kingdom of Christ is forever. So, to offer ourselves up on the altar as sacrifices for His cause is the only wise investment we can make.
Let us trust in the Lord alone because He is our only rock and refuge!
