May God’s wisdom comfort you and shed lights of understandings
At this time, as the winner of the Philippines’ Presidential election 2022 has been revealed, many in the nation are now celebrating and rejoicing. While some are in dismay, disbelief, confusion, worries, fear, and anger.
Regardless of whom you had voted for and whether your choice of candidate won the election, we should spend time to reflect on the lessons we can learn as we move onto the next chapter as a nation.
Today I am neither here to shed any prophetic light on the future of the nation under the new presidency, nor to give my personal opinions about the person. I am also not here to take sides amidst the present division. However, I am here to teach us some lessons which I observed during the election, which I believe shall shed lights to the hearts of many and bring both comforts and understandings through Biblical perspectives.
WHY DID GOD ALLOW THE RESULT?
“Is this person really from God? Why did He allow the result to be like this?”
Many are wondering why the person won the election instead of another whom they believe to be God’s choice. Some who do not agree with the result of the election are now in dismay, fear, and confusion. “Why did God allow this?” they questioned.
To answer the question, we need to remember that the election result is not a result of one Man in Heaven forcefully imposing His will on the people. Rather, is the result of the will of the citizens of the nation! By shading the circle on the ballot, the citizens have spoken, “This is who we want as our ruler!”
The truth is, the result of the election simply reveals the hearts of the Filipinos! Their hearts’ desires!
Throughout the Bible, we see that God always delivers the nation unto their hearts’ desires. For instance, look at when the Israelite asked for a King, regardless of whether or not it was God’s will to give them a King, God listened to their hearts and delivered them to their desires by giving them Saul (1 Samuel 8).
EXAMINING THE MOTIVES OF THE HEART
Based on what I have just said, we then understand that for the nation to arrive to the right decision during the election, their hearts’ desires must first and foremost be aligned with the will of God. Meaning, the heart’s desire must be righteous in God’s eyes.
“But how shall we know whether it is righteousness?” you may ask.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
Proverbs 3:5-6
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
If the decision is made based on the trust in the Lord and the love for His laws and righteousness, we know that it is right in the eyes of God.
AN UNGODLY DESIRE LEADS TO AN UNGODLY DECISION
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
Psalm 20:7-8
But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.
Let us examine the story of the Israelites’ first “election” found in 1 Samuel 8. Back in those days, the Israelites demanded for a king to be appointed. But for an ungodly reason!
The Israelites hoped that a man, a king, would save them and provide them welfare. They rejected the salvation which came from God, the ultimate Savior, and instead desired the saving power which came through the hands of a human, a king.
“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.””
1 Samuel 8:19-20
In today’s context, regardless of the choice of candidates, many hearts are demanding,
“Give us a king (president) who will deliver us from hardships, bless us financially so we will be out of poverty, and transform our lives and nation!”
Let us pause and reflect…
GODLY ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT
“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”
Deuteronomy 17:18-20
A Godly government is a mean of God to righteously rule over the nation.
It is NEVER meant to replace the rule of God or to replace God Himself.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…
Psalm 30:12
“‘Separation of Church and State’ was intended to provide freedom OF religion, NOT freedom FROM religion. It was intended to protect the Church from the State, not the other way around.”
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Blessed is the nation in which the people acknowledge the Lordship of God through seeking righteousness and walking in His ways.
A godly government is a government that protects the rights of the people to freely obey the laws of God. So that through obedience, God will in return prosper the nation.
TRUE PROSPERITY
The Book of Proverbs is God’s instructions on how to have a prosperous life, which were given to every citizen of Israel through the hands of King Solomon. It contains instructions on how to overcome poverty, how to live peacefully with neighbors, how to have a good marriage and raise children, how to be a good ruler, and much more!
If you desire live a prosperous life, look no further as the answers are found in the Book of Proverbs!
What does the Book of Proverbs say?
The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing;
Proverbs 13:4
But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
Throughout the Book of Proverbs, God highlighted the importance of being hardworking as an important mean to prosperity. In fact, the word “lazy” is mentioned 14 times in the Proverbs, and is always associated with poverty!
“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-10
For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”
In the New Testament, Paul, too, highlighted the importance of being hardworking.
THE PROBLEM
As many cast their votes, their hearts were speaking, “Let this man/woman deliver us from poverty and give us free bread. So we will be free from sufferings and hard work!”
They sought not the Lord nor believed in His instructions on how to prosper, but instead sought a shortcut mean of prospering through the help of flesh and blood!
For decades, such a desire of citizens have driven nations to elect ungodly rulers who not only did not reign in godliness but also left those nations without a permanent fix to poverty.
No matter how much money a government possesses, one day it shall run out. No man can make another man forever rich or feed another man for the rest of his life…apart from God who will sustain him all the days of his life till his last breath!
The solution of the nation does not lie in a man or a woman who will govern for a few years but indeed lies in the righteous, God-fearing, heart of the citizens! Only righteousness can turn the course of a nation!
A CALL TO REPENTANCE FOR TRUSTING IN CHARIOTS AND HORSES
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
Psalm 20:7
But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Thus says the LORD:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the LORD.
For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
And whose hope is the LORD.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
(Jeremiah 17:5-8)
Oh what foolishness it is to let the desire for easy riches and easy lives drive us to elect a ruler! Many hearts have forsaken their trusts in God and His righteousness instructions!
As a nation, we need to defeat the spirits of laziness and love for easy gains. We need to repent and embrace our hearts on God’s way!
Let us ask ourselves:
Where was our trust in God and reverence to His laws as we voted?
Did I value Biblical values or had a vain and unbiblical hope?
To whom, God or man, have we given our hope to?
Were the motives of our hearts righteousness?
Salvation is not through man but through Christ. No nation shall prosper if the hearts are not right with the Lord. Therefore, let us not trust in a flesh and reject His ways for when we follow His ways, He shall in return prosper the nation.
(This is not to judge the winning candidate or to condemn his voters. Each of us have varied reason in voting for a person. However, let us reflect on the motives for an action can be wrong due to the wrong motives!)
MOVING FORWARD AS A NATION
To my brothers and sisters who are in dismay because our choice of candidates did not win the race and who are in fears of the future:
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
(Psalm 46:1-3)
“…I have not seen the righteous forsaken…”
Psalm 37:25
Regardless of who is becoming he President, the promises of God in the lives of His righteousness people are not made void!
The Bible is still more true than any situations or circumstances. Let us therefore abide in His Presence for He shall be a Goshen in the midst of darkness for His chosen people who abide in His ways.
Let us also seek the welfare and God’s mercy for the nation as His believers. Do not lose hearts but let us draw near to the Lord more than ever before for He alone is the ultimate Savior of the nation!
BE AT PEACE!
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Written by Blazing Holy Fire Philippines Ministries, 11 May, 2022
Blazing Holy Fire Philippines 