Who determines the outcomes of political elections?  In free nations where people are allowed to vote, consensus holds that the citizens of those nations determine who will lead them for the next several years.  Is this true?  In the Holy Bible we are told that the answer is both yes and no.  In one sense voters do indeed determine who directs their social, political, economic, military, health, etc.  lives.  But in another sense decisions made and actions taken long before election day determine who will assume leadership positions.  Ironically, citizens of free nations, most of whom claim allegiance to the Biblical God, do not believe either of these Biblically-proven Truths.  It is true that people individually decide for whom they will vote, and that the person with the most votes wins the election.  The question no one asks is: WHY DO PEOPLE VOTE FOR ONE PERSON OVER ANOTHER?

I rarely wax political while in conversation.  Normally I do more listening than talking as people voice their thoughts and opinions on the issue of political elections, the subject that has dominated most discussions over the past “election season,” which seems to get longer every four years.  Because I live in the United States of America–the One Nation Under God In Whom We Trust–the people with whom I normally come into contact profess to be Christians.  Therefore any election time conversation usually revolves around two “Bible truths.”  Truth number one: “Everyone should vote.  It’s not only our duty to vote, we have a responsibility to vote.”  Truth number two: “Well, we know that God is in charge.  But you’re right, God expects us to vote.”  The consensus is that God is in charge of who gets elected, and that He uses people to perform His will.  Which is Biblically correct–to a point.  The ultimate question is, why do leaders become leaders?  As Scripture tells us, the answer lies in the past, long before an election is held or a dictator crowns himself.  The answer to the “why” questions will be answered in part two of this series.

I was born in 1941 and have lived through many elections.  However, never have I heard and seen such unbridled emotion expressed as in this presidential election.  Today is December 15, 2020.  Yesterday the Electoral College officially determined who will occupy the White House for the next four years.  Half of the nation is elated; the other half is dejected.  Half claim that they won the election because they “… got out the vote.”  The other half claim they lost because they failed to do so.  Then there are those who believe that the election was rigged.  And the election craziness is not over.  Equally as important as the presidential election is the January run-off election in Georgia that will determine which party will hold sway in the U. S. Senate.  That debacle is stirring up almost as much political consternation as the one we just suffered through.

The ultimate question that needs to be answered is: HOW DOES THE RULER OF THE UNIVERSE FIT INTO THIS ELECTIONARY FIASCO, IF AT ALL?  The answer would shock the world if it was universally known.  Let us look at what the Universe Creator and Controller said about the issue in His Holy Scriptures, which His Son called “truth” in John 17:17.  What He tells us will answer a few questions that invariably come to mind when an “election season” comes around: Does God care who wins elections?  Upon what basis does a Cristian cast his/her vote?  Should the morals of the contenders play a part in a voter’s decision? or are such things as the environment, health care, etc. more important?  Let us look to the Bible for the answers to those questions.  We will begin with a statement that most voters will have a hard time accepting.  It involves who actually chooses world leaders.  Question: If God is in charge, why do some of the most vile and despicable people on earth end up on top?

The Prophet Daniel addressed the “Who’s in charge?” question in no uncertain terms.  At the time he answered the question he was a captive who was addressing his captor–the king of Babylon, the most powerful nation on earth.  King Nebuchadnezzar was dictating a notice that was to be read throughout the nation.  He had just been taken down several notches by the Almighty and was letting the people of Babylon in on a secret he had learned from a Jewish slave who had informed him that: “… the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men and appoints as rulers over those kingdoms the very worst of men” (4:17).

Many generations later the Apostle Paul reiterated this eternal truth in a letter to the church he had established in Rome,  which was at that time the capital of the world’s most powerful nation–the Roman Empire.  Paul wrote: “Let every soul be obedient to the higher (political) powers.  For there is no power that was not put in place by God.  Those in positions of power have been placed there by God” (13:1).

Ultimately, America’s latest presidential election (WHICH IS NOT YET OFFICIAL), along with every election everywhere on earth, every governmental appointment, every coronation, every revolution and coup in every country throughout the world.  Whether in the past, the present or the future, has been, is and will be either allowed, influenced or orchestrated by Almighty God.  GOD IS IN CHARGE.  Yogi Berra, the famous Hall of Fame catcher for the New York Yankees of old summed up this presidential election when he said: “It ain’t over till it’s over.”  I personally do not believe God intended for Donald Trump to serve only one term.  The following is my opinion: If I am wrong and the election stands as declared, my beloved country will sink into a Satanic sewer where everything that is wrong, evil, putrid and perverted will be exalted and glorified on an unprecedented level.  If I am right the nation will witness an explosion of rage, destruction and social upheaval on an unprecedented level.  L.J.