If you live in Wisconsin, as I do, today is an election day. I was downtown early today and stopped in to vote. It was the time to do it, I beat the rush. It was also a quick process, since the only two offices on the ballot were for president, and the new county judge position that is being established. We have a new judge coming on board because our county is growing quickly. I guess more people means more crime and judicial issues.
It is impossible to live in the United States these days and not know that we are the midst of an interminable election process. I was very frustrated when, as the last election tallies were being made known, that the politicians exploded on the scene with a TWO YEAR election campaign. So much for campaign financial reform, already hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent. We have been suffering from this process for more than a year, and it won’t be over till this November. Then we will have to put up with all the hoopla that leads to an inauguration. Then we will see what the new president does and says are all the solutions to our problems. Will that person actually do what was promised in the campaign? Who knows.
Every candidate running for office (from local to national campaigns) works hard to convince us that we really need them in office. Without “them” we will be doomed. They are trying to tell us that the joker in office now is worthless and that we need to elect someone new. Then they will solve all our problems and we can live happily ever after.
Unfortunately, much of the political process has turned in to chasing after prince charming. Are we really better off? It doesn’t seem to matter any more who is running things, the allure of power and political office seems to take over. And, that leads to the question at the top of this blog - Where is our hope?
Back in 1834, Edward Mote had a desire to write a hymn on the “ ‘Gracious Experience of a Christian”. He quickly thought of the words that talk about a solid foundation - On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand. He then wrote the verses and it was published a few years later. He had some friends, the Kings, and Mrs. King was dying. He visited them one day, and as they prayed, he shared these new words with her. They were a great encouragement to her and she wanted a copy to keep.
What did Mote write?
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
These words are a powerful expression of where our hope is. Even though we need to study the issues in this election process and carefully vote for who we think is the best person for every position, our real hope is not found in government. Yes, we must participate in the process of government, but that is not our hope. Our real hope is found in the promises of Jesus for this life and the next. For God so loved the world that He gave us His Son. When people face the real hard issues, such as Mrs. King faced her mortality, the promise of tax relief or some jobs or education bill doesn’t deal with the real issued. Only Jesus can carry us through the real issues of life.
Where is our hope? On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand.
It is impossible to live in the United States these days and not know that we are the midst of an interminable election process. I was very frustrated when, as the last election tallies were being made known, that the politicians exploded on the scene with a TWO YEAR election campaign. So much for campaign financial reform, already hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent. We have been suffering from this process for more than a year, and it won’t be over till this November. Then we will have to put up with all the hoopla that leads to an inauguration. Then we will see what the new president does and says are all the solutions to our problems. Will that person actually do what was promised in the campaign? Who knows.
Every candidate running for office (from local to national campaigns) works hard to convince us that we really need them in office. Without “them” we will be doomed. They are trying to tell us that the joker in office now is worthless and that we need to elect someone new. Then they will solve all our problems and we can live happily ever after.
Unfortunately, much of the political process has turned in to chasing after prince charming. Are we really better off? It doesn’t seem to matter any more who is running things, the allure of power and political office seems to take over. And, that leads to the question at the top of this blog - Where is our hope?
Back in 1834, Edward Mote had a desire to write a hymn on the “ ‘Gracious Experience of a Christian”. He quickly thought of the words that talk about a solid foundation - On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand. He then wrote the verses and it was published a few years later. He had some friends, the Kings, and Mrs. King was dying. He visited them one day, and as they prayed, he shared these new words with her. They were a great encouragement to her and she wanted a copy to keep.
What did Mote write?
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
These words are a powerful expression of where our hope is. Even though we need to study the issues in this election process and carefully vote for who we think is the best person for every position, our real hope is not found in government. Yes, we must participate in the process of government, but that is not our hope. Our real hope is found in the promises of Jesus for this life and the next. For God so loved the world that He gave us His Son. When people face the real hard issues, such as Mrs. King faced her mortality, the promise of tax relief or some jobs or education bill doesn’t deal with the real issued. Only Jesus can carry us through the real issues of life.
Where is our hope? On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand.
