The Polls Are Open
by Neal Pollard

     All over the nation, in supposed record numbers, poll levers are being pulled, votes cast, and the office of president is in the (probably prolonged) process of being filled by the winning candidate.  People in this place of democracy are, at this moment, helping to decide the political fate of individuals vying for a place of public leadership.  Those elected may or may not be persons of worth and integrity.  Their careers may be starting, extending, or ending, depending on the majority's say.  They may gain or lose a place of authority based on their political, international, domestic, economic, and social philosophies.  After all, public officials are always vulnerable to the fickle feelings of the voter.

     Everywhere in the world at every moment, everyone is casting a vote of a different nature.  Only one figurative ballot is used in this worldwide decision.  Only two choices appear on the ballot.  The issues are paramount in importance.  This vote is not cast secretly behind a curtain, either.  Many times, a righteous minority may be caused to suffer because of the foolish "majority vote" (cf. Proverbs 14:34).  When all of life is over, the voting record of every individual will be made public.  In fact, all people of all nations for all time will know which choice every individual elected to make in his life.  And yet, with this poll, one can change his vote as long as life and opportunity are his.

     Does the Kingdom take PRIMARY importance in your life?  In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Mat. 6:33).  The head of this kingdom is Christ "and he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Col. 1:18, emp. NP).  God demands first place.  We must love Him more than anyone or anything else (Lk. 10:27).  Whatever keeps us from attending the worship assembly, from actively seeking the lost, and from modeling true Christianity before the world, takes priority over serving and obeying God in His Kingdom.

     Are you casting the VOTE of your life for or against Jehovah?  All Israel stood before Joshua to decide to whom their life belonged.  In Joshua 24:15, Joshua had said "God or gods."  "And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; For the Lord our God, he it is that brought up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: And the Lord drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the Lord: for he is our God" (Josh. 24:16-18).  The people of God cast their vote out of appreciation, for they remembered the deliverance of God.  The people of God cast their vote out of attention, for they recognized the power of God.  The people of God cast their vote out of alarm, for they revered the justice of God.  The people of God cast their vote out of aversion, for they rejected the enemies of God.  Joshua reminded them that God would go with them only as long as they went with God.  Because God is a jealous God who wants first place in our lives, He expects the import of our lives to reflect our submission and trust in His way.

     Does King Jesus REIGN in your heart?  The promise of Christ's coming included the announcement of Gabriel, who said, "And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Lk. 1:33; cf. Dan. 2:44).  The "throne of the heart" is often mentioned in figurative language.  All of us place something there.  We place our accumulation before that throne (Matt. 6:21), our affections around that throne (Col. 3:1; Rom. 12:2), and our allegiance before that throne (Jas. 4:4; 1 Jn. 2:15-17).  Is Jesus "a resident" in the "castle" of your heart?  If so, is He King or peasant to you?  The Bible calls Jesus "the King of the ages" (1 Tim. 1:17), "The blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings..." (1 Tim. 6:15), and "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (Rev. 19:16).  How much greater than the mere prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2) is our Almighty King Jesus!

     God created every person with the ability to freely choose.  He will not rule us dictatorially (tyrannically).  He leaves the power of choice in our hand.  Yet, we must choose carefully.  The decision we make has eternal consequences.  King Jesus says, "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.  For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me" (Jn. 12:48-50).  Whether we elect Him King of our lives or not, He has been appointed by God to judge us on an appointed day.  The polls are open.  Will you choose Christ and His law?

This item originally appeared in Daily Bread (November 2, 2004)