Looking for a Messiah?
History repeats itself. Throughout history, people just like us have been waiting for a leader who would make their lives better. For instance, the Jews of the Old and New Testament were waiting for a King to come. Their Messiah, they reasoned, would be a political leader. He would solve all of their problems: social injustice, economic problems, and centuries of persecution. This Messiah would be the change they longed for. They simply couldn't wait for his long-awaited arrival.
How bitterly disappointed many were when the Chosen One, the King of Kings, came as a babe. They were confused and disbelieving. This was not what they were expecting. He was not who they had pictured. He would not rise up and fight, at least in the way they wanted Him to. (Many were anticipating bloodshed and were in fact, bloodthirsty. They had been wronged and wanted others to suffer as they had suffered.)
Wanting a triumphant Warrior King, they were presented with the Prince of Peace instead.
The Lord told them the hard truth. "Turn the other cheek," he said. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." "Forgive seventy times seven times." "Blessed are the meek." In other words, Love. Love like crazy. Love the way you want to be loved.
When asked to name the most important law, Christ the King answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength....and love your neighbor as yourself." I read this as a two part command. First and foremost, love the Lord with everything you've got. Love Him with your service, with your obedience, with your pocketbook, with your vote. Love Him.
Then, once you've gotten that down, then, and only then, can you love your neighbor as yourself. I really don't think it's possible to love your neighbor as yourself until you've first loved the Lord. He gives you the grace, the power, the ability to love in that crazy and unselfish way. It's all about Love. And He himself is Love.
Today there is an election at hand, and history repeats itself. Many are looking for a King to come, a King who will turn the world on its ear. They are ready for change and I can relate. I am ready, too. Yet I know that a mere political leader is not going to be the true change that I desire. It doesn't matter who he (or she) is. Like the Jewish people, we are longing for a Rescuer, a Deliverer. We're all looking for that. More peace. More ease. More equality. More.
Yet could it be that we are looking in the wrong place? He's not at the polls. He's the Living Word. The Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. The Savior. The Redeemer. The Comforter. The Lover of our souls.
Want change? By all means say a prayer, then cast a vote. But never expect that the election of a new American president is going to bring you a new Messiah. Our Messiah has already arrived. He's still here...and He's coming again.
3 comments:
So true! We have all lost focus - God is right here and always has been. Yet we are all too busy to even notice. Let's hope he forgives us for the lack of attention. I hope His Will is done and the right candidate wins today. Hopefully the next president doesn't cut him out of our lives even more than we have done already!! Let His Kingdom Come!
So true! We have all lost focus - God is right here and always has been. Yet we are all too busy to even notice. Let's hope he forgives us for the lack of attention. I hope His Will is done and the right candidate wins today. Hopefully the next president doesn't cut him out of our lives even more than we have done already!! Let His Kingdom Come!
Amen girl! Laura
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