Politics and Wisdom

These may be mutually exclusive, but we can give it a try.

Do you remember the elections for student body president from high school? The candidates tried to outdo each other with promises calculated to gain votes. Some promised to institute one day weeks. Others guaranteed an A for every class that the student attended, and some even if they didn’t attend. Others pledged that school lunches would be reduced to 25 cents. The opponent went one better with a free lunch for everyone. And on and on and on.

I was reminded of that as I read the litany of Democratic candidates for the 2020 election and their campaign promises. They are no more reasoned and researched than the high school students’ platforms. And they are no more likely to be instituted than our high promising teens.

What I think is funny is that most reasonable voters recognize this foolishness and are mildly or even wildly amused. But our wanna-be's continue to multiply and prattle on and on and on.

One statement I heard struck me with its complete candor and accuracy. Our friend from 2016, Bernie, promised that he would never appoint a justice to the Supreme Court that would abolish abortion. Well, what do you know. I agree with Bernie completely. In fact, I would go so far as to project that he will never appoint a SCOTUS Justice ever. Thanks for the reality check, Bernie. That is refreshing among all the blather arising from the candidate corps.

What strange thoughts run through one’s mind at night. At least I have some strange ones. Does a mole make any noises? I was writing about lions and their roars. Then later, the wandering, wondering mind pounced on this idea like a lion on an antelope. What noise would a mole make?

Next thought. I think Cynthia Tobias said this. “We would think a lot less about what others think of us if we realized how seldom they do.” Right on.

Just a thought on prophets. One of the least mentioned of the Old Testament prophets is found in 1 Samuel 17. This prophet accurately predicted the outcome of the day’s battle and the demise of his enemy. Check it out.
45 “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”

Notice verse 46 specifically. This prophet warned his adversary that he would go down and his head would be removed. His supporting army would be wiped out. And what happened? Was this a true prophet? Read on...

48 Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.

50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand. 

You guessed it. Our prophet was none other than Jesse’s son, David, from Bethlehem. David “complied” with or met every requirement of a prophet. First he was faithful to what had been said before. He did not contradict any previous revelation from God. Second, he did not lead the people away from God. And third, he was completely accurate in his predictions. They came true exactly as he had stated.

So when we read other documents produced by him, we can be assured that those are likewise, “God breathed.” This is in spite of some of his stumbles, nope, sins. But when the Lord spoke through him, it was reliable and authoritative, just as the messages received from other prophets. God spoke through him. I want to hear more.

One last thought. Often Christians are called narrow minded or overly exclusive when we claim that there is only one way to God. That way is through Christ Jesus. As I was reading the Bible today I was in I Samuel 18:18. The context of the story is that David is being invited into Saul’s family, although surreptitiously, Saul was anticipating that his bargain with David would lead to the Philistines killing the shepherd boy.

David asked, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” That triggered an interesting thought. Saul had to invite him into his “house.”

Now refer back to our initial question. Heaven, or God’s house, is what we are being invited to enter. It is God’s house. He sets the conditions under which we can enter, just as Saul outlined the price that David had to pay to be included in his family.

God invites us into His family and consequently, to join Him in heaven for eternity. Just as any one of us would be offended if someone approached our door and demanded entry, so God is offended when admittance to His house is dictated in opposition to His direction..  He has clearly outlined the conditions, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.” (Acts 16:13) Anyone and everyone who attempts to enter by any other claim or manner is considered a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)

The “reasonable” argument is on the side of exclusion. It is unreasonable to expect admittance to anyone’s home when the supplicant refuses to comply with the owner’s specification. We are all familiar with the “No shirt, no shoes, no service,” placard often visible in the window of an establishment. Is the operator unreasonable, or merely exercising his prerogative as owner?

The Lord graciously invites all to come. And like the father in the story of the wedding feast in Matthew 22, the host invited the guests to come. Incidentally, he provided the proper attire. The guest had refused to accept the required clothing and was dismissed–well let’s be frank here–he was ejected.

If some refuse to accept the Lord’s invitation, their only option is to go to “another heaven.” And I am certain that it is not a nice as the one to which we refer. I’m dressed and going. You come too.