The Election's Over - Now What?

The Election’s Over – Now What?

Various Scriptures

November 16, 2008

NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT IS FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE."

Me: The election was just under two weeks ago, and it wasn’t my intention to address it, other than to say that we need to continue to pray for our country and our leaders.

But to be honest, I’ve heard a lot of comments over the last two weeks about how ugly the election was and how the end of the world is upon us because the abortion ban failed and because Senator Obama was elected president.

I gotta tell you that I personally haven’t lost a lot of sleep about it.

Overall, I’m not too upset about the outcome of the election, in spite of the fact that the abortion industry’s lies won the day and the fact that Ronald Reagan isn’t still president.

We: Over the last two weeks I’ve heard elation about the election and I’ve heard depression. And everything in between.

If your candidates and issues won, then you’re excited, and that’s okay and natural.

But what about those whose candidates and issues lost?

I would have to venture that most people in the evangelical world, at least in South Dakota were disappointed.

So I don’t think I’m the only one, nor the only one in this room.

Well then, how do we move on? How do we come to grips with what’s happened and move on to effective Christian living and effective ministry now that “the other guy” is our new president, or because our issues failed at the ballot box?

I want to talk about that today, because I think it’s critical for Christians to display hope and faith in spite of the possibility of mounting difficulties.

I believe Scripture has some things that can help us be people who have a positive attitude regarding the election.

And before I get into that, let me make something clear: I’m not saying that we have to be happy about the election, or that we ignore the implications of it, if certain people have their way in the next administration.

I’m simply saying that we can be people who are hopeful and Christlike in the face of it, okay?

God/You:

Four ways to keep a positive attitude after the election:

1. Refuse to let “worst case scenario” thinking dominate.

Have any of you read the book, The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht?

It’s a great little yellow book that describes all sorts of ways to get out of even life-threatening situations.

Here’s how they describe getting free from an alligator:

How to Wrestle Free from an Alligator

1. If you are on land, try to get on the

alligator’s back and put downward pressure on its neck. This will force its head and jaws down.

2. Cover the alligator’s eyes. This will

usually make it more sedate.

3. If you are attacked, go for the eyes and

nose. Use any weapon you have, or your fist.

4. If its jaws are closed on something you want to remove (for example, a limb), tap or punch it on the snout. Alligators often open their mouths when tapped lightly. They may drop whatever it is they have taken hold of, and back off.

5. If the alligator gets you in its jaws, you

must prevent it from shaking you or rolling over—these instinctual actions cause severe tissue damage. Try to keep the mouth clamped shut so the alligator does not begin shaking.

6. Seek medical attention immediately,

even for a small cut or bruise, to treat infection. Alligators have a huge number of pathogens in their mouths.

The next section in that chapter is:

How to Avoid an Attack

That’s easy, in my opinion. Stay away from alligators and any possible place they could be – especially New York sewers and even Reptile Gardens in Rapid City…

Every survival expert will tell you that getting out of dangerous situations hinges on the idea that you can’t panic. Panic takes away your ability to think rationally through the situation and take appropriate action, even if the appropriate action is to do nothing and simply wait for help.

So here’s what I’m trying to say about how to keep a positive attitude about the election: don’t panic.

God’s not freaking out about the election. God’s not worried about who’s in the White House.

His plans are intact no matter who is president.

Isaiah 40:23-24 –

23 God brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.