Granddaddy Rogers
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17:26-27 NIV
Today in America in 2022, we will vote for our national, state and county elections. I remember the first time I voted, I was in 9th grade. It was the 1976 presidential election. As you can detect, I was only 14 and the vote took place in our social studies class.
I found out that you could use a write-in candidate for your one vote. I chose my grandaddy Rogers. Almost every time I visited his house around 6:00 p.m., he was watching Walter Cronkite on the CBS Evening News. He would interact with the program and add his own commentary on how things should be done. His common sense approach made me think he was wise. I actually campaigned for my grandaddy and got two other votes for him. However, I forgot to ask my granddaddy if he would want to be president if he won?
Why was I born in America as a Rogers at this time in history? Paul says that each of us are born in our appointed times in history and boundaries of land because God is in control of those things. His purpose is for us to seek for Him, reach for Him and find our life in Him. No matter where in the world you find yourself, God is making Himself known to you and that revelation is found in the person of Jesus.
The god of this world, Satan, has blinded the eyes of men and women so they have a hard time seeing the hand of God who has been active throughout their life. Everyone of us can point to a painful experience and demand that God reveal to us “why did you allow this to happen?” Or we can make a list of difficulties which we have had to endure in which no hope seems to be present. Perhaps you have experienced untimely deaths by family members, poverty, betrayals of loved ones who have abandoned you, financial struggles which have crippled your future, or debilitating and chronic sickness and disease. NONE of those life trials are God’s favorable plan for your life, BUT He uses ALL of them to help you seek Him and to know Him.
I vote because I have the privilege of being born in America. Far more important than American privileges is the relationship of becoming a child of God at 8 years of age at Turkey Creek Baptist Church. Life events placed my mom and my siblings back in her home church. This is where I heard the stories of Jesus, his love for the world and specifically for me. He loved me and died for me so that I may know Him. My response? I gave Him my heart.
Being a Christian and being American are not in contradiction but the priorities are vitally important. God first and country second. For some, this may seem like a problem. Loving your neighbor as yourself should always lead to a benefit to those in every level of society. Love constrains our speech, our attitudes and our actions to the building up of others.
May God bless America, not because we deserve it, but because we seek His hand of mercy and grace. I hope that many will find Him during and after this political season is over. God is pursuing each one of us so that we may know His love, peace and life everlasting. If you already know Him, it is our watch, our duty, our privilege to share Him with others who born in our “time allotment”
Today, I will wear my “I voted” sticker as a proud follower of Jesus
Blessings
Love y’all
No matter where in the world you find yourself, God is making Himself known to you and that revelation is found in the person of Jesus.
This is such a powerful statement and so convicting! Something to be shared with the whole world! Thank you.
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Amen and amen again Pastor Greg.