You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:16 ESV
My family and I went to the poll early this morning to vote. Although the voting started at 8:00 AM, there were already five people waiting when we arrived at 6:05 AM. People are taking this election very seriously. By the time I voted, the line went all the way around several buildings. I was happy to see that level of voter participation.
When Jesus was crucified at the cross of Calvary, he cast his vote for humanity’s salvation. His death was the ultimate and only vote that could guarantee our salvation. Whereas I stayed in line for only two hours this morning to cast my ballot, Jesus waited for thirty-three years to cast his ballot for humanity’s redemption. His vote was not contingent on our righteousness. It was an expression of his grace and a demonstration of divine love. That vote not only changed our eternal destination, it also gave us a new identity as joint-heirs with Christ.
Christ chose us so we can go bear fruit for the kingdom of God. When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we cast our ballot for heaven. Believers should live in such a way as to show the world that we also voted for Christ. As Donnie McClurkin sings: “Living, He loved us, Dying, He saved us. Buried, He carried our sins far away. Rising, He justified freely forever.”
We cast our ballot for Christ through Christian service. When we do the great commission work, we are casting our ballot for Christ. Every time we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless, and share the gospel with the unsaved, we are casting our ballot for Christ. Whether we know it or not, there is a fierce competition happening in the spirit world for our vote. The devil is engaged in a misinformation campaign to deceive us into voting for darkness and wickedness. His agents of darkness are dispatched to every neighborhood, city, state, country school, church, community center, and government office to entice people to choose the devil instead of Jesus Christ. We have to be informed about the choice that we are making so we do not condemn ourselves to a life of eternal torment in hell.
Since last month, my wife printed the name of every candidate running for office so we can do our research on each candidate. We wanted to make sure we know each candidate’s position on major issues so we can make an informed decision when we cast our vote. Many people will not read the Bible for themselves and will not know why they should confess with their mouth and believe in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord. Therefore, believers have to share the word of God and live it out so the world can see why they should choose Jesus.
The voting machine malfunctioned this morning as people were casting their ballots. The voting officials asked voters to put their ballot in a box instead of through the machine. Many people were uncomfortable with that because they want their vote to count. Fortunately, our vote for Christ cannot be tampered with. Our ballot is guaranteed to go straight to the Almighty God, and they will be counted no matter what.
So, have you voted for Christ yet? Or, are you one of the people who like to wait until the very last minute to vote? Many people regret the fact that they did not vote in 2016. These people have another opportunity to make their voices heard this year. Because we do not know when we may die, we should not delay our decision for Christ. Today is a great day to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. A delay in making that decision may have eternal consequences that we will not be able to fix.
Prayer- Blessed Lord, as people are voting through the country, remind them there is another election that has been going on since you arose from the grave. Please give them the wisdom to choose Christ.