ELECTIONS

September 2009 article by John Lockyer

Recently there have been a number of General Elections in several countries around the world which have provoked some intense analysis and even hostile comment from international observers about the declared results, and this is likely to continue in the months ahead with the elections in Iraq and Burma. Although a General Election is not expected in this country until the first part of 2010, there has already been considerable speculation because of the scandal over MP’s expenses which were exposed by the Daily Telegraph. The mechanics of that election, however, are not in question, unlike the flawed personal qualities of many of those seeking office.

These overseas elections have posed very different problems! Last year, in Zimbabwe for instance, it was widely recognized that Robert Mugabe had lost to the opposition leader, but he clung to office even after a second ballot, which he also lost, aided and abetted by his henchmen, with Morgan Tszangerai, the opposition leader, reluctantly becoming the titular Prime Minister in an uneasy coalition. More recently there has been a similar abuse of the democratic process in Iran, with a similar clinging to power by the incumbent president who was widely perceived to have lost; and even more ominously many of those protesters who were bold enough to voice their disquiet at the turn of events now imprisoned or facing summary trial.

We are currently seeing another disturbing situation unfolding in Afghanistan, with accusations of ballot fraud and misrepresentation in spite of the efforts of international military forces fighting to bring stability to a fragile, volatile country. Lying ahead are the elections to be held in Iraq and in Burma, where the charismatic Democratic leader who won last time, but was denied power by the ruthless army leaders, again finds herself under house arrest for 18 months because she was found guilty on a spurious charge brought by these army leaders.

And so it goes on throughout the world in one form or another!

In these monthly ‘Signs of the Times’ articles, evidence is consistently given of clear Bible teaching that the Lord Jesus is soon to return to sweep away all his corruption and ruthless lust for power and to establish a worldwide righteous kingdom over which he will rule. During His ministry, when he was surrounded by a hostile crowd, he issued this challenge: “Which of you convicts me of sin?” Although no-one was able to gainsay that, the Lord Jesus was still arrested and illegally tried by an equally ruthless hierarchy who misrepresented His claims and who were equally determined to retain their power and authority. He was duly crucified by them, but Almighty God raised His sinless Son from the dead, and it is that man who will justly reign over all mankind, free from any corruption or any malpractice.

Six hundred years before the Lord Jesus was even born, the prophet Isaiah penned these words about this future role which He will fulfil:

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears. But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist. (Isaiah 11 vs 1-5)

There is an aphorism which states that “all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. The world has suffered from this right down the centuries, but although the Lord Jesus will wield absolute power, there will be no corruption because His reign will be based upon very different principles. In fact one fundamental object of His reign as King will be to eradicate all forms of corruption.

However, the Word of God is much more than a political or economic document, else it would be a political dream of paradise and a certain election winner! Essentially it will be an age when men and women will worship and praise God, an age when they will rejoice in serving God, and an age which will have abolished many of the trivial and sordid amusements which appeal to man’s fancy today.

But this challenges everyone who would wish to participate in this age. The Apostle Peter put it like this:

…give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, ye shall never fall; For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.