The Most Powerful Man
by Pastor Matthew E. Walker, 1 November 2009

With all the hubbub over health care and the economy along with the difficulties in Afghanistan and Iraq, American politicians would like you to believe that what we really need is more and better government. In other words, more of it. The November 2009 elections, just a couple days away from the time of this writing, will decide who governs our nation from the federal down to the local level. By the time you read this those choices will have already been made. But what does it mean? How will it change our lives?

Unfortunately, many Christians have come to a similar conclusion. They believe that the outcome of elections determines the nation’s moral code. They believe that if pro-life politicians win elections then people will stop having abortions. While elective abortion should be illegal as it is the murder of a human being, changing the laws will never change the human heart.

In the days of the Judges God had instituted His laws, codified them in written form by the hand of His servant Moses, and had them inscribed on a huge stone face in the center of Israel for the whole nation to see. These were not man’s laws. These were God’s laws. Included in them were commands about murder (abortion), stealing (any kind of financial swindle), adultery (moral failing), lying (honesty would help solve so many relationship problems) and coveting (wouldn’t this eliminate much of the personal debt problem in America?). The laws were very clear. There were even stipulations for enforcement and special cities established to aid those wrongly accused of a crime. What God instituted in Canaan during the days of Joshua was the greatest government the world has ever seen…ever.

Our American system of justice, our tri-partite branches of government, these are wonderful. The Bill of Rights is precious to all of us who are Christians. But we cannot deny that living in the days of Joshua would have been better. There was complete freedom to serve God and the government was even established to help in that process. Yet in spite of those laws and that government the people still did not follow after God. Judges 2 informs us that a generation arose that did not acknowledge God or the works that He had done for their fathers. They wanted the blessings of the Promised Land without the submission to God required to keep it. The result was God’s judgment by way of oppression and while God did send them judges to free them periodically, they weakened over time. There is a tremendous difference between Othniel and Samson. When the time of the Judges ended the Ark of God was taken captive and a baby born to a dead warrior-priest was named Ichabod, “the glory has departed.”

What we learn from the Judges is that human government, while ordained by God, cannot solve the complex sin problems of the human heart. If our nation is to ever see the blessing of God again then Christians need to step up and begin living right before the Lord. The elections this week will decide the outcome of who runs the government. The time in prayer, the Bible study, the commitment to sharing the gospel by believers this week will determine so much more. If you are eligible to vote you should do it. It is your responsibility as an American and a Christian. But you should also earnestly contend for the faith. That is the real solution.

The most powerful man in the world is not our President. It may not even be a man. The most powerful person is the one closest to God.