It's an election year, and once again America is hearing that there are a few of her fellow citizens who are the key to bringing hope and meaningful, lasting change to our lives and the world. Before the recent primary vote, one of the major contenders for president had their Rhode Island campaign headquarters in the first floor of the building I live in. Each day as I walked by these headquarters, signs urged me to vote for this candidate if I really wanted hope. I saw hundreds of people filing in there every day, and many volunteers feverishly working from early in the morning to late at night, because they are absolutely convinced that their candidate is the leader who will meet our deepest needs as a nation. I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.
Recently, I've had occasions to listen to a national radio personality. In the few times I've listened to this show, as the host discusses all the issues our country is facing, and his feelings about the crop of presidential candidates, I've heard him console concerned listeners who call in by saying, "Let not your heart be troubled." In other words, the caller doesn't need to fear the future, because this radio host is going to be there for them. Again, I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.
When I hear other human beings offer themselves up as my hope, my reaction is to say to them the proverb that was quoted in Jesus' day: "Physician, heal yourself!" (Luke 4:23). Our country doesn't need a modern-day messiah. She needs to repent of her sin, and believe the Messiah Who has already been sent! It was He who said (with the power to back it up), "Do not let your heart be troubled" (John 14:1). If any of us are wrapping our hopes up in anyone besides Jesus Christ, we are going to be sorely disappointed.
Man's deepest problem is not war, but the hearts plagued by greed, selfishness, unkindness, and bitterness that start wars. Man's deepest problem is not poverty, but hearts plagued by lust that consumes a person's wealth on pleasure, and selfishness that will not meet the needs of others. Man's deepest problem is not racism, but hearts plagued by pride and hatred. Man's deepest need is not intellectual education, but heart transformation. And, no human being can deliver man from his greatest problem: sin.
Your biggest problem and my biggest problem is our sinful heart. We have a heart that at its core is not in submission to God. So, our lives, our nation, and our world are filled with violence, hatred, greed, selfishness, lust, unforgiveness and the resulting sorrow that comes from it all.
In the midst of it all, God has presented His plan for world peace and peace in our individual lives. God's peace plan is Jesus. The Scripture says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (II Corinthians 5:17). The reason this new life is possible for all of us is because "He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21).
America needs Jesus. I need Jesus. You need Jesus. Will your turn from your sin and put your trust in Him?
"Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; Who keeps faith forever" (Psalm 146:3-6).