I was struck by a recent message from author John Ortberg. Living in California he asked the question, “What if we got all the propositions right on election day? What if we got every piece of legislation exactly the way we know it ought to be?” He then followed up with, “Then what?”
“Would that usher in the kingdom of God? Would the hearts of the parents be turned toward their children? Would all marriages be models of faithful love? Would greed and pride be legislated out of existence? Would co-workers find one another to be models of harmony and delight? Would human beings now at last be able to master our impulses in areas of sexuality and anger and narcissism? Would you and I become the person we know we ought to be?”
Along with people paying close attention to the coming elections, there is also of course the continued uncertainty over the economy. In the past few months psychiatric hospitals reported that admissions more than doubled due to people suffering “extreme stress” over the current economic crisis in our nation. On top of fears of unemployment and home foreclosures, the average American has nine credit cards that carry a total debt of $17,000. Clearly many people are facing very real financial challenges.
It is easy to see the wisdom in Ortberg’s words. Along the same line of thought, suppose the economy recovers quickly and rapidly becomes healthier than it was before the crisis. Suppose expendable income increases drastically and people are able to purchase exactly what they want. The question is still the same, “Then what?” Would we become the men and women God calls us to be? The reality is that no external thing will bring about the change that first needs to take place inside. Jesus tells us, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).
Amidst the countless conversations about debates and policies and opinions and elections and economics, may we above all remember where the real answer lies, where real change is found, and where real hope can never be shaken. President George Washington said it so well: “Direct my thoughts, words, work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate Blood of the Lamb, and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit. Daily frame me more and more into the likeness of Thy Son Jesus Christ.” Amen.
Tobin Crenshaw
twominutesermon.com
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