Graceful Submission

This is a reprint of Pastor Bruce Crabtree's (Sovereign Grace Church in New castle Indiana) comments on the recent election.

Our nation just finished a long hard fight to see who would be our next president. To be honest with you I was very disappointed. Not because I belong to another political party, but because of the moral issues involved. Morally, our country is going in the wrong direction. No doubt, we, as a nation, are becoming more open and profane.

I did everything I could do as a citizen of this county to vote our president out of office. I cast my vote for the other candidate. I am sure many of you did the same thing. Yet, Mr. Obama, was reelected as our president. It is very evident to me that God has set him in this office. Those who watch the polls closely say that Mr. Romney was surging ahead until hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast and that storm completely changed the course of the election. I have no doubt of that. God has His way in the storms and it seems it was God’s will to set Mr. Obama back in office. To be honest with you it was somewhat difficult at first to come to terms with that, but I have.

This does not mean that you and I support many of the president’s policies. Some of his policies are murderous. Not only does he support the killing of the unborn but he promotes it. The Bible says, “Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.” (Deut. 27:25). Who are the most innocent and vulnerable among us but the helpless children in the mother’s womb. This is the old spirit of Pharaoh and Herod who were willing to slay the children to further their own sinful causes.

Some of Mr. Obama’s policies are perverted. He actively promotes and seeks to make it lawful for one man to marry another man. He even seeks to change the essential definition of marriage i.e. that it is between a man and a woman. God calls this uncleanness and abominable. This sin has been the cause of God giving men up to a reprobate mind, and it has brought the open judgment of God upon many, (Ro. 1:24,27; Jude 1:7).

Some of our president’s polices are nothing short of thievery. To borrow money from someone else and spend it recklessly with little or no intent to repay it is nothing short of being a thief.

No Child of God can support such policies but must oppose them. We are told to come out from among them and be ye separate and be not partakers of other men’s sins.

What should our attitude be then toward our president? We are commanded of God to pray for him, and for all others in authority that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all honesty (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We are told to support them with our finances and be subject to their authority (Ro.13:5-6); unless of course our obedience to them would be contrary to the law of God; then we are to obey God and not man. I prayed for God to remove Mr. Obama. It was not his will to do so. God has a purpose for keeping him in this office. I do not claim to know what that purpose is. It may be for mercy or correction or for judgment. Only time will tell - God knows. I pray above all else that God would open the president’s heart.

God has raised this great nation up and upheld it for a long time - in many instances, in spite of itself may I say. God has sent the gospel of redeeming love from sea to shining sea. From our northern most borders to the southern gulf shores; along the roads and in fields and in churches. Multitudes of poor sinners have been called to repentance and faith and a new life in Jesus Christ. Even in times of our most bloody and heart breaking wars, redeeming mercy has visited this country to wash away the blood stained hands and souls of many and has shed abroad the love of God in their hearts.

While you and I love our country, and it breaks our heart to see the direction it is going, let us remember that we have a higher calling. We are citizens of a heavenly country. We have a King over us - Jesus Christ our Lord. His kingdom will soon subdue all earthly kingdoms and destroy them. Christ’s kingdom is the only everlasting kingdom that shall never pass away. And His kingdom is the only kingdom of true righteousness.

It can be said of every generation what the Apostle said of his day, “we live in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (Phil. 2:15).

Let us not be discouraged then, brothers and sisters. And remember the words of our dear Savior, .…“See that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass“.. (Matt. 24:6). Our Lord knows what is happening. Our God has a purpose in all things and his will is always and only good. Let us gracefully submit.

Let us lift up our heads for our redemption draws near. Now is our salvation nearer then when we first believed. Let us be patient and continue to love one another and seek the good of all. Temptations may increase in the days ahead. Seek for grace to honor God and to live a quiet and peaceable life in all honesty. Don’t set your heart too much upon your “stuff.” Hold every earthly thing with a loose hand. We must soon leave it all behind. Set your affection on things above. There is more grace and love in the heart of Christ than tongue or pen can tell. Let us seek to fill our hearts with the strength and knowledge of it. Then we can sing with dear Jane Bonar:


‘Fade, fade, each earthly joy, Jesus is mine;
Break every tender tie - Jesus is mine.
Dark is the wilderness,
Earth has no resting place (she felt it in her day too);
Jesus alone can bless - Jesus is mine.
Tempt not my soul away - Jesus is mine;
Here would I ever stay - Jesus is mine.
Perishing things of clay, born but for one brief day,
Pass from my heart away - Jesus is mine.
Farewell, ye dreams of night - Jesus is mine;
Lost in this dawning bright - Jesus is mine.
All that my soul has tried, left but a dismal void;
Jesus has satisfied - Jesus is mine.
Farewell mortality - Jesus is mine;
Welcome, eternity - Jesus is mine.
Welcome, O loved and blest, welcome, sweet scenes of rest;
Welcome my Savior’s breast - Jesus is mine.