Tomorrow, Lord willing, is the day when a nation goes to the polls to vote according to their "democratic rights". I pray and ask those who view this post to exercise their vote by voting with their conscience and to make their vote count.Promises have been made left, right and centre which is nothing new. Parties past and present have done exactly the same as at any other preceding election. Please read a post from October 2008 titled The Battle For South Africa before reading on.
So what makes this election any different from past elections? It would appear nothing from the same promises which have been made in the past which have not been delivered. So can we trust the politicians? No - we can't if they are looking after their own interests. The only time we can trust them is if they have truly repented of their evil and wicked deeds and have put their faith and trust in their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If they are not living in submission to the One and Only Living God of the Bible then we know God's Holy Standards will not be practised in parliament.
To know what God's standard is, is to look into His Moral Law known as the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17):
1. You shall have no other gods before Me. Are you worshipping other gods and believing that you can have freedom of religion. God says no other gods are to be before Him. Guilty?
2. You shall not make any graven image before God. This is idolatry to make gods out of stone, wood and other materials. To bow to them is an abomination in the sight of God. This also includes making a god to suit yourself. Guilty?
3. You shall not take the Lord your God's name in vain. This is blasphemy and God will hold everyone guilty who drags His and His Son Jesus' name around with no regard for the God who gives you life. Guilty?
4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. Are you remembering and setting aside time to worship God in spirit and in truth? Guilty?
5. Honour your father and your mother. Are you showing honour to your parents? Parents need not remind us to do things. We should respect them by obeying their lawful instructions. God commands us to honour them. Guilty?
6. You shall not murder. Even hating someone and calling them a fool will be in danger of hell (Matthew 5:22) and he who hates his brother is a murderer (1 John 3:15). The killing of unborn babies which is abortion is also murder. Guilty?
7. You shall not commit adultery. Adultery is having sex outside of the bounds of marriage, but Jesus also said that whoever looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28). Looking at pornography? Homosexuality? Fornication? Guilty?
8. You shall not steal. Are you a thief? If you have ever stolen anything - does not matter the size or the value of the object, then you are a thief. Guilty?
9. You shall not lie. Ever told a lie to deceive someone. Maybe a "little white lie that will not hurt anyone." Someone always gets hurt by the lie. It also creates distrust. Let the truth be known. Are you a liar? Guilty?
10. You shall not covet. Do you desire, lust, want other peoples' possessions. Then you are coveting. Guilty?
There is a Day more important than the day you vote for election candidates to be the government upon this earth. God has set a Day aside when He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31) and the Bible says it is appointed to man to die once and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). So if you have answered "yes" to any of the guilty charges you are guilty of them all (James 2:10). Will you therefore be innocent or guilty of violating God's Law? If you have rightfully answered guilty, will you be good enough to enter heaven? or will you be cast into hell? Lawbreakers will be punished and God has assigned His prison for lawbreakers to be hell for eternity. That is the bad news.
The Gospel ("The Good News") is that God has made a way out for the sinner from being condemned for eternity - the only way is through His Son Jesus Christ (John 14:6). God became a Man in the person of His Son Jesus. He was fully God and fully Man and without sin. Jesus, the Anointed One, being the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29,36) gave us the divine standard by which we are to live as He revealed Himself to humankind and then He obediently went to the cross to be punished by the full wrath of God to pay for the remission of sin and take the full punishment sinners rightfully deserve upon Himself. Salvation is for the repentant sinner who will hear the Gospel and believe. Not just believe but to put their full trust in Jesus Christ for mercifully dying in the place of you the sinner. Jesus gave up His spirit and as prophesied He resurrected to life again on the third day forever defeating sin, the grave and death. He has ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father and He will return at the Father's choosing to judge the world in righteousness. You cannot buy your way into Heaven. Your righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) in the sight of a Holy God. You are not good. God is so Good to want to save evil and wicked sinners from eternal damnation. Therefore, repent before God’s throne while you still have time.
So make your vote count. Visit Christian Action and also check out the Biblical Issues Voters' Guide 2009 and remember to vote with your conscience.
