Resigned to Hillary winning.  That’s how I wearily went to bed last night.  Same sinking into the same old sinking days of America.  Now, after learning Trump triumphed, I’m still stunned.

For years I’ve concluded that ” . . . the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven . . .” (Romans 1:18) against the godlessness, corruption and baby-slaughters of this nation.  We’re sliding deeper into sin because we choose sin.

Now I’m not sure what God is doing.   Is Hillary’s loss a wrath-reprieve?  A chance for the USA to enjoy God’s mercy?  Time, I suppose, will tell.  Donald Trump isn’t our savior.  No signs of American repentance are seen.  We’re just hopeful that some of the worst wrongs of Obama’s administration will be righted.  And the potential wrongs of a Hillary administration have been averted.

But Donald Trump is still Donald Trump.  But who is he?  In my book, not Hillary.  And that’s a good thing.  But he has no track record to review.  Or maybe I should say he’s got a not-so-commendable track record.  I do think diving into America outside Trump Tower has rubbed off for good on him.  But can he repair a deeply-divided nation so we’re not at each others’ throats?  Can he heal the anger over injustice in black communities?  Can he open the door to more and better jobs?  Can he help ignite a moral (if not spiritual) revival among us?

Well, let’s just sit back and see.

No!  That’s just what we must not do.  Like all president-wanna-be’s, Trump has promised more than he can possibly deliver.  Besides, the root disease of America isn’t bad trade deals.  It’s sin.  A broken relationship with our Creator.  A border wall won’t fix that.  Four years from now I’ll be shocked if we’re not complaining about what Trump hasn’t done.  Even the best deal-closer in the world can’t make the U.S. “great again”.

With President Trump’s inauguration, it’s time for us to renew our devotion to pray . . .

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful lifewith all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.This is good and it pleases God our Savior,who wants everyone to be savedand to come to know the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4, GNT)

I’m preaching first to me.  Here’s one place (among many) where I’ve fallen short.  In recent weeks, the Lord has reminded me of this through my oldest grandson, with whom I’ve been having weekly devotions.  He’s prayed for the Lord’s will to be done in these elections.  So, convicted, I urge me (and you) to pray.  Not for Trump’s sake.  Nor for the Republicans’ sake.  But for the sake of our children and grandchildren.  And, as Paul wrote, “that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.”
That brings me to a second devotion for us to renew:  to live like salt and light . . .

“You are like salt for the whole human race. But if salt loses its saltiness, there is no way to make it salty again.It has become worthless,so it is thrown out and people trample on it. You are like light for the whole world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead it is put on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house.
In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16, GNT)
 

Jesus clearly explains light’s function:  to reveal our good works and bring praise to our Father.  In other words, the good things we do should “show off” the goodness of God.  But light, like salt, can be an irritant.  (Try suddenly turning on a spotlight in a black-as-night room.  Hurts the eyes so much you quickly close them.)  Similarly the “light” of “good works” can irritate and, by God’s grace, convict the doer of “bad works”.  Either he’ll try to turn off our good works or maybe consider repenting.  Has our “light” been dimmed these days?

 

 

Regarding prayer and salt-and-light-living, it matters not who is president.  But, maybe God has given us an opportunity with Trump’s surprising victory.  Maybe God is pushing us back to what he’s already to us.  Pray.  And live what we are in him:  salt of the earth and light of the world.

 

 

By God’s grace that may at least slow this country’s fall away from God.  And it certainly will show America that there’s another kingdom, a better one, that has come already, and will come in its consummation soon.

 

 

So as it turns out, the question on this day-after-election isn’t, ‘What’s God doing with Trump?”  The question is, “What’s God doing with us?”