God Doesn't Want Our Vote, He Wants Our Heart!
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bulletin Articles on the HeartThe Associated Press reported today that “Battle-weary members of Congress are coming soon to neighborhoods near you to press for re-election.” (Also note this article).
It’s always been amazing to this writer, that the only time we ever physically see our elected officials, is when their terms are almost at an end. It’s a time when politicians exit their plush offices en masse, condescending to the point of having to ask those of low estate, i.e., the common man (that‘s us folks!), to once again vote and re-elect them so they can again return to their plush offices in Washington (I call them “kingdoms”).
Through the years, I’ve learned that politicians will promise us (their constituents – that‘s also us folks!) almost anything in order to garner our vote. To the Hispanic and African American population, they promise all kinds of “free” incentives in order to gain their vote (folks, nothing is “free” – it costs someone something – note the cost of our salvation – Acts 20:28; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:20; Hebrews 9:11-12; 1 Peter 1:18-19). To the Anglo population, they promise all kinds of tax breaks and credits (remember “Read my lips: no new taxes”?).
Thankfully, when God, in the form of Christ (John 1:1,14) willingly condescended to our sin-sick realm (Philippians 2:4-8), He didn’t come to garner our “vote” – rather, He came to garner our “heart” (read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, noticing how our Savior addresses and examines the motives of the heart).
When God has our heart, we can rest assured that unlike the promises of politicians, we’ll receive “all” of His promises (2 Corinthians 1:18-20; cf. Romans 15:8-13; Hebrews 6:10-20), including the promise of our spending eternity with Him in heaven (John 14:1-4; Revelation 21:1-7; cf. 2 Peter 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:3-4).
The question is, “Does He have our heart?” If not, we need to humbly and willingly be obedient from our heart, to the gospel terms of salvation (Romans 6:17). We can then become “just a Christian,” receiving “all” spiritual blessings which are only found “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3 KJV).
Let’s think about it (Psalm 1:1-2), and then take any necessary action! (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).