Did God Really Say?

June 2, 2022

Did God Really Say?

Dear Member,

  Recently, an old friend told me that he was not interested in voting ever again. He said he did not think it would matter. The sense of defeat and lost hope in his voice called out to me.

  Is this not what the enemy of God wants? To extinguish hope, to silence the righteous, to cast doubt and cause disarray, and to destroy our faith in our Heavenly Father? This has been the tactic of evil since the beginning–the Serpent called God’s words into question in the Garden of Eden.

  The fall of man, death, and sin were all born out of Lucifer casting doubt and questioning God’s goodness and justice. He claimed that God would not follow through, “You won’t die if you disobey.” Instead, the serpent deceptively asserted, “You will be just like God.” He knew theses were lies, but his goal was to bring about the downfall of all humankind and to destroy the handiwork of God. As Jesus would later say in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” Jesus contrasted Himself to “the thief” when He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

  While Paul urged Christians to pray for all who are in authority, the enemy seeks to cast doubt on what that means. Though Jesus told His people to pay their taxes and take part in their civic duty as citizens, the darkness again challenges as we see imbalances in the enforcement of laws and the uneven application of justice. We are being influenced to think that what we believe and the actions we take will not matter.

  The enemy does not care whether it is disbelief in God’s law or the believer who has given in to apathy. He will utter each lie and lay countless traps to distract you from the light and cause you to give in or give up. He claims victory when your eyes look away from the Cross.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

  To encourage my friend, I told him that the enemy is relentless so we must be equally perseverant in all that we do as Christ followers. We must believe that God is at work, and He will fulfill His promises. Do you relate to my friend when you think about the future of the nation? Consider what it could mean if thousands or millions of God’s people decided their vote does matter. Would that not be honoring to God?

  You care for this nation, and, like me, you yearn to see God’s will accomplished in America and for His perfect hand of mercy, grace, and protection to be upon us. Which is why I write all this to you. Our choices, our decisions, and, yes, our votes matter. Just as each time we lift our voices to the Lord in prayer, our concerns matter to God.

  Whenever the doubt creeps in, remember to turn to God in prayer and lean into His word for encouragement. Here are some key verses that remind us of the things God did say and the promises that He has made:

• 2 Chronicles 7:14  
• Psalm 22:28 
• Jeremiah 17:7-8 
• Matthew 5:18, 24:35, 28:18 
• John 10:10, 16:33 
• Philippians 4:6-7 
• 1 Peter 2:13-17 

  By the way, my friend called later that day and told me that he made sure he was registered. He is going to vote. I encourage you to do the same.

   Jim Bolthouse
   President

  P.S. In 2020 we partnered with a national study* to check the pulse of America on faith, prayer, and matters that confront our nation. Now, two years on, we are inviting you to participate again and share your views. The results will be compared to the 2020 findings and shared later this summer along with an in-depth, comprehensive, and biblical look into the top subjects.

(Takes only a few minutes.)