Reflections on an Election
As I gaze from afar at my home state of Florida, a portion of a verse comes to mind, “the nations rage” (Ps. 2:1).
Last month, Patricia and I went to Florida, where I saw my mother in Pensacola and preached in evangelistic meetings in two churches in Tallahassee. My message was, “Jesus saves” (and some got saved). After returning to California and seeing what has happened this month, I think my message to Florida should have been, “RELAX!”
At least wait until the absentee ballots are counted. This is not (nor will there be) a constitutional crisis. Just relax. Have a little patience. Cool it, or as they say today, “chill out.” Who knows, the absentee ballots may just solve the problem. If it doesn’t, let’s go from there, but taking to the streets and all this rhetoric now is premature.
There is a little Florida in all of us. We are impatient. We rage.
“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh” (Ps. 2:4).
Well, what should we do? The Psalmist says, “Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him” (Ps. 2:10-12). In other words,
1. Be Smart (Ps. 2:10). People are rejecting God’s rule (Ps. 2:1-2), but God decrees His Anointed will rule (Ps. 2:4-6) The Anointed discloses His rule (Ps, 2:7-9). You cannot escape the dominion of the God-appointed king. If you persist in your rebellion you will be destroyed. So, get smart. Be wise, O kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
2. Be Serving (Ps. 2:11). More specifically, start serving the Sovereign. Do it with awe and respect (cf. fear and trembling).
3. Be Submissive (Ps. 2:12). Kiss the Son was an ancient mode of showing allegiance to a king (1 Sam. 10:1). Don’t perform the external sign without the internal reality, for it will not work, nor do you have any benefit. That’s what happened to Judas. He kissed the Son, but only had the external act, not the internal reality. He perished.
In light of the fact that God is going to establish His Son as King of the earth, everyone should trust the Son to be blessed now and not perish later (Ps. 2:12). Someone has written,
It is better to bow then to be broken.
Either kiss the Son or be laughed at by the Father.
God’s anointed has been appointed and will not be disappointed.
Come to think about it, in light of eternity, my message in Florida is the one that is needed in the mist of any and all chaos and confusion, rage and rebellion. Jesus saves.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 11/16/2000
Last month, Patricia and I went to Florida, where I saw my mother in Pensacola and preached in evangelistic meetings in two churches in Tallahassee. My message was, “Jesus saves” (and some got saved). After returning to California and seeing what has happened this month, I think my message to Florida should have been, “RELAX!”
At least wait until the absentee ballots are counted. This is not (nor will there be) a constitutional crisis. Just relax. Have a little patience. Cool it, or as they say today, “chill out.” Who knows, the absentee ballots may just solve the problem. If it doesn’t, let’s go from there, but taking to the streets and all this rhetoric now is premature.
There is a little Florida in all of us. We are impatient. We rage.
“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh” (Ps. 2:4).
Well, what should we do? The Psalmist says, “Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him” (Ps. 2:10-12). In other words,
1. Be Smart (Ps. 2:10). People are rejecting God’s rule (Ps. 2:1-2), but God decrees His Anointed will rule (Ps. 2:4-6) The Anointed discloses His rule (Ps, 2:7-9). You cannot escape the dominion of the God-appointed king. If you persist in your rebellion you will be destroyed. So, get smart. Be wise, O kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
2. Be Serving (Ps. 2:11). More specifically, start serving the Sovereign. Do it with awe and respect (cf. fear and trembling).
3. Be Submissive (Ps. 2:12). Kiss the Son was an ancient mode of showing allegiance to a king (1 Sam. 10:1). Don’t perform the external sign without the internal reality, for it will not work, nor do you have any benefit. That’s what happened to Judas. He kissed the Son, but only had the external act, not the internal reality. He perished.
In light of the fact that God is going to establish His Son as King of the earth, everyone should trust the Son to be blessed now and not perish later (Ps. 2:12). Someone has written,
It is better to bow then to be broken.
Either kiss the Son or be laughed at by the Father.
God’s anointed has been appointed and will not be disappointed.
Come to think about it, in light of eternity, my message in Florida is the one that is needed in the mist of any and all chaos and confusion, rage and rebellion. Jesus saves.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 11/16/2000