The other day, I came across a different kind of way to
decide a question or choice. It’s called "casting of lots". The exact mode wasn’t
clear - could have employed the use of dice, stones or wood. But however it was
managed, the effect was to leave the choice to God, believing that the outcome is
a revelation of His will.
In Acts 1:26, the disciples used that method to choose Judas’
replacement. "And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias,
and he was numbered with the eleven apostles".
My question is, can we cast lots today to determine our choice
for President?
The answer is No. Why? Because God has provided a better way
to guide those who have a genuine relationship with Him - He has indwelt us
with His Spirit and provided us with His word.
However, “casting lots” is still a good reminder that:
1)
Only God knows (or can change) the heart
We can debate all we want on the competence and integrity of
the candidates but does anyone really know what’s in their heart - if their
love for the country is genuine or not? Only God knows that. So we seek Him, not
relying fully on our own judgment. We minimize man's agency and exclude all
partiality by being directed by God’s providence.
Casting dice settles a dispute, deciding between strong contenders.
(Proverbs 18:18 ISV)
2)
Only God knows what’s best
Think about this. Suppose you believe in eternity. A forever. Not just a
billion years but forever.
In light of eternity, our whole life is like the first day
of third grade – a day no one remembers. So in the year 30,985, would you
even remember who you voted for in 2016?
In light of eternity, our main concern should not be who to vote but where to spend our forever and how to bring people there with us.
In light of eternity, our main concern should not be who to vote but where to spend our forever and how to bring people there with us.
3)
Only God can make things right
We’re all hoping for a new Philippines - a place and time where
the old order of things passes away, where corruption, poverty and injustice
cease to exist, where women who were raped, children who beg for money or sell “Sampaguita”
in the streets at night, and the sick who suffer in pain no longer have to cry.
Imagine that kind of place.
And try to stretch your imagination some more and bring it
to a place where mourning, pain and even death are no more; where every tear is
wiped away from our eyes.
Imagine that kind of place.
That place is real. That place exists. It’s a promised home
for us who believe. It’s a promised home for us who have a relationship with Him.
The thing is, we won’t experience that anytime soon in this lifetime even if we vote for the best candidate. But
the miracle of accepting Jesus into our hearts is no matter what we’re
going through, no matter how hard our life seems, and no matter how widespread evil
is, we can have joy that’s real and lasting, a joy that never goes away and a joy
that can only come from Christ. Not only that, we are also given the desire to give our life in
service to this world.
Real change starts in the heart. Only Christ can change hearts. Changed hearts change the
world.
My prayer: We, who are called by His name, would humble
ourselves, and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. If we do
that, God promises that He’d hear from heaven and forgive our sin and heal our
land.
