Epic Family,

Well, we have finally reached the date that many of us have been eyeing for all of 2020. This election really matters and how it turns out will have implications for the future of our nation. While this election is quite important, it is possible to place more value on it than it can actually deliver. 

All of us are looking for someone or something to deliver us. The Bible says that whoever or whatever we look to for our deliverance, this has become our savior. And each of us places our hopes on a savior, whether or not the person or the thing actually has the power to save us.

Is your hope in Jesus or in a particular outcome of this election? Are you really going to place your ultimate trust in a President, regardless of how well they might lead our country? If the candidate that you didn’t vote for wins, will you be paralyzed by anxiety and fear? Is your confidence tied to tonight’s results or to a God who has promised to be faithful to you and to never leave you?

I believe God wants to use the following words to encourage us and challenge us when it comes to where we are putting our hope.

Psalm 33:16-22 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

Anyone or anything other than Jesus is a vain hope for deliverance. We are all tempted to look to certain things to feel confident about our future. Where in your life are you telling yourself, “As long as I have ____________, I’m going to be okay”? Your job is a vain hope for your deliverance. Your wealth will not ultimately be able to save you. Joe Biden or Donald Trump will never be able to guarantee your future.

God is able to do for us what no one else can do for us. If your choice for President doesn’t win, God is still in control. Jesus still has all authority on earth and in heaven. What do you long for that only God can give you? Let me encourage you to seek Him. Let me remind you that, with God, all things are possible. 

We must daily place our hope in Jesus. Fighting for hope is a daily battle, especially in this current season. We are daily searching for reasons to have hope. We get an email from our kid’s school with something about “reopening” in the subject line, only to realize they don’t intend to reopen anytime soon. We search for the latest vaccine news, only to realize it’s still going to be quite a while before widespread distribution will be available. We see glimpses of life returning in the city, but it all still feels so far from normal. We must wake up each day and pray for things to change, but place our hope ultimately in Jesus. He is steadfast. He is our True Savior. His love never fails.

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Have you found your salvation in Jesus? There is no other name that can save you - from yourself, from your sins, and from a life without God. If you’re interested in Jesus becoming a True Savior in your life, I recorded a video for you here. 

I’m praying for the results of this election, but my hope is in Jesus.

Much Love,