I’m well aware that none of us can pinpoint precisely how Jesus would act or what exactly He would say in any given situation, let alone in response to these election results, if He lived as a human today. After all, He often surprised some of the people who spent the most time with Him here on this earth. The apostles were sometimes flabbergasted…”How could you tell someone touched you?” – or “But what will we feed these people??” – or “Don’t let the little children bother you.” But each time, they were essentially forgetting who it was they followed. So let’s take a few minutes to remind ourselves – that our Lord is the Creator of the Universe. He has already overcome the world. He loves us, this I know…every soul, in every color, in every land. And He yearns for us to become a part of Him – to become holy, as He is holy. To become righteous, as He is righteous. To become love, as He is love.
Let’s imagine how he might react to us – ALL of us – after this election season of 2016, which birthed some of the ugliest comments and divisiveness in U.S. history.
I envision that Jesus the Christ might not even have a Facebook account were He to live in 2016. Or maybe He would, but I suspect that He would spend a negligible amount of time on it. (Insert shamefaced apology from me here – and a promise to do better.) After all, He already knows everything about each one of us – and knows our thoughts before we think them. But I am certain that any action He took online would be wise and thoughtful, full of prayer beforehand to His Father.
And whether Jesus met us online or physically walking down Main Street, I believe that He knows just what we need.
For the crushed in spirit, He would give words of hope.
For the fearful, He would offer His peace that passes all understanding.
For the confused, He would gently remind to trust and obey.
For those who fancy themselves more enlightened than everyone else, He would advise against haughtiness and encourage patience and kindness.
For the livid, He would extend a reminder, “Be angry and sin not.” And admonish them to outdo one another in showing honor, loving each other with brotherly affection.
For the triumphant, He might add a stern warning to practice humility, to become peacemakers, and live in harmony with each other.
He would remind ALL of us that He has already overcome Satan in the end.
He would encourage us to work together to spread the true gospel – the Good News – and not just the gospel of prosperity or greatness of America.
He would model a prayer life for us that approaches our Father in every instance, in every feeling of hope or despair. He would pray for the President and his family. And he would pray that the rest of us could distinguish between the presidency (very short term in the whole scheme of things) and the Eternal Kingdom…and then act like it.
I suspect Jesus would remind us to shut out the distractions – knowing that there’s a time to speak and there’s a time to be silent. He would encourage us to log out of Facebook and log in to our lives. To spend our precious time – our very wisp of a vapor – on building something that will truly make a difference. That will truly last.
He would probably remind us to find the good, hold onto it so tightly, and actually become the good. With His help, of course.
And to become beacons of light in this dark and dingy world…
To become salt in this tasteless society…
To become “all things to all men, to hopefully save some.”
Let’s spend some time reading Jesus’ words – and other scriptural inspiration – and take His strength out onto the battlefield with us, wielding the sword of the Spirit – which is meant for delicate heart surgery and not random decapitations.
And love each other through this.
—
Like this post? Pin it and share it on Facebook.
