November 11, 2024: Christ as Cornerstone

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes” (Psalm 118:8-9).

“He brings [reduces] princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. Scarcely shall they be planted, scarcely shall they be sown, scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, when He will also blow on them, and they will wither, and the whirlwind will take them away like stubble” (Isaiah 45:23-24).

Dear Praying Friends:

Since the election last week, like you, I have read news reports and received letters from friends reflecting two starkly different responses: Many evangelical Christians, perhaps a majority, are happy and hopeful. Other sincere believers are sad and fearful. And some have mixed emotions because of the complexities of American politics.

We all need to remember that “exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south.  But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another” (Psalm 75:6-7). The prime example, of course, is the resurrection, ascension, and session at God’s right hand of Jesus, who had been shamefully rejected and crucified (Psalm 118:22-25; Matthew 21:42).

In other words, all earthly political power is ephemeral and, finally, the result of God’s sovereign governance of his world. Things can change quickly, depending on external factors, such as war, and depending on internal forces, such as hyperinflation. Voters are fickle and can switch allegiances within a few months.

Furthermore, “our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). That is why Peter, who lived under Nero, wrote, “rest [your] hope fully upon the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13), and John warned, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the word, the love of the Father is not in him . . . And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15, 17).

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:22-23).

Yours in his ultimate victory,
Wright

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