Pride, Politics and the Long Haul

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

This vision is for a future time.  It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place.  It will not be delayed.  “Look at the proud!  They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked.  But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.  

Habakkuk 2:3-4 (NLT)

Habakkuk’s prophecy is a scathing warning to nations and their leaders who have achieved “greatness” by resorting to bloodshed and oppression.  It is obviously not the kind of stuff we’d read or quote during our Independence Day celebrations.

Yet, it is a good thing for us to remember. 

While much of our storied American history is laudable and noble, (depending on your vantage point), you might consider that our nation was built on the blood and backs of oppressed people and atrocity.  Consider, for instance, our bloody hands with African slaves and Native Americans.  Remember the greed-driven fortunes of powerful business monopolies of the 19^th century.  And don’t leave out the political American dynasty-building expansionist policies of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. 

Also, of late, consider Iraq.  Contention in the Middle East is not all about protecting American soil-sovereignty and freedom; there is oil at stake.

Now, that being said, we have to remember that none of us alive today had a thing to do with any of that history of the first days of our political system. 

But we are products of that system, and live under the benefit (and curse) of it.  Our responsibilities are not how we were born into our culture, but rather what we do with our culture, once we are awakened to the righteous nature of God, and the fact that we are accountable for how we live.  Remember, our Creator has prior-claim on everything He created, including you and me!

The Psalmist expressed the character of God:

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.  Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants.  Psalms 89:14 (NLT)

This leaves very little room (read that as zero room) for pride.

Habakkuk urges patience because the coming judgment of God will happen.

And it won’t happen a moment too late (or early); it will happen on God’s timetable and in God’s way.  Politics with pride eventually will cave-in on itself, and power-holders will wonder what happened. 

In the end the real power will reveal itself in a shout of the archangel.

For You, Today…

It is the responsibility of Christ-followers to walk by faith, not pride, not power.  That “faith” is better understood as a walk of faithfulness to God, or obedience to God. 

Don’t be too upset by what you see in the news reports of the day.  Rather walk humbly for the long haul, waiting patiently for the Lord. 

Be confident and faithful as a child of the king.