The year 2016 will be very intriguing on the political campaign trail since this is a presidential election year for the nation’s highest office. Campaign speeches, candidate debates, politician promises, and television advertisements are the order of the day. From reduced taxes to national security, each candidate has a promise for a better future with the pledged intent to be the best individual to lead arguably the most powerful nation on earth.
Political parties, campaign workers, political action committees, labor unions, and caucus groups alike are lobbying on behalf of their selected candidate to secure votes. The question, “Who has your vote?” will be asked throughout this period in efforts to ascertain candidates’ standing with voters. Voters will research candidates’ platforms, review their congressional voting records, listen to presidential debates, study political agendas, read media blogs, evaluate candidate pros and cons, and then make a decision to support their preferred candidate.
As a minister of the gospel, I dare not mix church and state issues, but juxtapose the aforementioned question, “Who has your vote?” to a greater reality that affects not one’s political penchants or likings, but one’s eternal life.
While an American leader can only keep a campaign promise for a maximum of eight years, let me remind you of a leader who has made an eternal promise to us.1 This leader is King of Kings and Lord of Lords,2 and His platform has forever been one of love.3 His track record has always embodied teaching the Word, preaching the good news, healing the sick, caring for the poor, and setting people free.4 His passion for people has been centered in giving them life.6 Moreover, with Him, there are no property taxes, because He paid it all for us on Calvary.6 This leader is none other than Jesus Christ! Jesus has my vote! He has my support! He’s not a Democrat, Republican, or Independent. He’s just my Savior!
A vote is defined as “a formal opinion or choice.”7 So, to cast a vote for Jesus is to formally choose Him. You’re letting everyone officially and overtly know that Jesus is your choice! While this vote is not cast in a voting terminal, booth, or cubicle, I’d like to suggest four ways in which you can cast your vote for Jesus:
1) Through love – Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”8 We are further admonished, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth, not knoweth not God; for God is love.”9
2) Through obedience – Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments,”10 and what a joy it is to obey Him knowing that great peace is afforded to those that love His law!11
3) Through worship – Again, Jesus declares, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.12 The great psalmist exhorted, “Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of his power. Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to his excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”13
4) Through service – Let us “serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.” The apostle Paul added, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”14
Jesus made us a promise. He promised that one day soon He is coming back to redeem His supporters!15 We show our support and express our vote for Him through love, obedience, worship, and service! Jesus has my vote! Can He count on yours?
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