Make No Debate--It's an Open and Shut Case

Well, tonight's the "big night"--Round 1 of the Presidential debates between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney.

We are certainly in for an interesting, entertaining, and hopefully informative evening as each man explains why we should vote for him.  The debate will cover a wide variety of issues from health care, to the economy, to foreign policy.  Each man has a different approach to how these issues should be handled, and thus they will debate with one another over which approach is best.  I would like to say, "May the best man win!"  But, there is no truly objective way to judge who will "win" the debate since their answers and statements can be somewhat subjective.

For the most part, subjectivity is what allows the "winner" to be determined by how each viewer feels about what happens during the debate. Thankfully, when it comes to God's declarations for us, neither our feelings nor the feelings of others have anything to do with what's true and just.

We can try to debate God, especially when bad things happen to "good" people.  But, like Job did, we will find our attempts to debate God futile. The title of a great stage play says it best-- our arms are "too short to box with God."  Along those same lines, the apostle Paul raised the question that clarifies why there is no debate with God:

"Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, 'Why have you made me like this?' Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?" (Romans 9:20-21 New International Version)

God's will for our lives is not subject to our whims.  It doesn't matter how we feel about His plans, our job is to trust and obey.  When we do, we will find that God's way always turns out best anyway.  Sometimes, it seems like the very thing (or person) we desire is poised to come right through the door toward us, and then the door suddenly closes.  Or, we may be focused on a certain door determined to make it open through our sheer will, but then another door opens that we hadn't focused on or even noticed.

Rest assured that neither scenario is accidental.  The testimony that God is building in us is already and open and shut case. As Revelation 3:7 explains,

"What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open." 

Let the great minds and great leaders of the world continue debating while those of us who follow the example of Jesus Christ keep our eyes fixed on the one who is "able to keep us from falling...." No, that One will not be appearing on stage with President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney.  But He will be appearing in the form of the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth regarding how we should cast our vote and how we should live our lives during and in the aftermath of the election.

Regardless of the outcome of the election, it should always be evident that we are Christians because of our love-- for we are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind, and love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). Unlike the issues that will be discussed tonight, God's command is not up for debate.

BNcouraged (and B N prayer during this process!)

Rev. Karen