Reflecting on the 2020 Presidential election, I remember attending a book signing six years ago featuring 2016 presidential hopeful, Dr. Ben Carson.
At the time, he was mulling a run for office. We had opportunity to talk, and I practically begged him to become a candidate. If necessary, I would’ve done so on bended knee, seriously. I was so confident his common sense approach to life would be a fresh take on governing. I believed he could transform the country for the better.
When Carson bowed out of contention, it crushed me. As an alternative, turned to Senator Marco Rubio with the same belief he could bring about change. When Rubio exited the race, the Lord gently said to me, “Derek, I took your saviors away. What are you going to do now?” Under an enormous weight of conviction, I repented of the sin of elevating a politician above the Lord Himself. I committed the sin of idolatry.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land (Jeremiah 17:5-6).’”
Conversely, Jeremiah also writes, “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8).’”
Many of us within the body of Christ exercised the right to vote for our candidate of choice. Yet, for some — like me with Dr. Carson and Senator Rubio — desiring hope and change through the soon-to-be departing President Trump, God took a savior away. Where will that hope be placed now?
No politician can defend or “save Christianity” or “restore the soul” of a nation. A massive wave of repentance must sweep through the church — including me — for the grave sin of political idolatry.
God says, “Then if MY PEOPLE — as opposed to those outside the church, my insertion — who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).”
Rather than from Donald Trump or Joe Biden or Amy Coney Barrett or a conservative leaning Supreme Court, our defense, salvation, and restoration comes from the King of heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 12:2, the prophet himself declared, “See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.”
In conclusion, for transparency, I voted for President Trump and President-elect Biden in the 2016 and 2020 elections, respectively. During the 2020 cycle in particular, I’ve read of the most shocking rhetoric from fellow believers on both sides of the political aisle, casting doubt on the other’s status as a Christian because of their voting preference.
If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the word of God declares you’re God’s son or daughter, and that makes us brothers or sisters. John 1:12 says, “But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.” Furthermore, 1 John 4:15 says, “All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.”
Regardless of which candidate you supported, I love you. I’m honored you are a part of my life and that we’re also connected here on social media.
May we all look up to Jesus, the Rock of our salvation and say to Him, in the words of the classic hymn, “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art! How great Thou art!”
