SPIRITUAL PARALLELS OF ELECTION 2008 and BEYOND:
The time has come for all Americans to elect a new President and other important offices of government. I want to encourage all our citizens to vote. Regardless of the party you have chosen to affiliate with. It is our right and also our duty to the Republic. Each time we exercise our right to vote we keep the freedom of democratic government strong and renewed.
With the election season upon us, I see interesting similarities between election and running for office and the ELECT OF GOD. Often the debates and negative arguments that define the political process and election season obscure the honor and sacred nature of a free electorate. With most political blog's on the internet either speaking for or against a candidate, the point of this article is to highlight the positive and spiritual facts of truth that are hidden behind the purpose of elections and governance. In fact running for office and winning a seat of authority are powerful metaphors for something sacred and divine.
Public service has long been recognized as an honorable way to share our lives in the behalf of others. Being chosen by the people of your district, state or country makes this a very special experience. Each election cycle the citizens of the country are given the facts of each candidate. Then after a period of debate and deliberation, each voting member of the USA goes to the polls to render their choice. The candidate with the majority of votes is elected to occupy a seat of government. As in the natural, so it is in the spirit. This is one of the great mysteries of God’s plan.
ALL TRUTH IS PARALLEL:
1Peter 1:2 ELECT according to the FOREKNOWLEDGE of God the Father…
God through foreknowledge (having the absolute and perfect knowledge of all from the beginning to the end) has deliberated about all souls and chosen or ELECTED those whom He did foreknow to be conformed to the image of Christ Himself.
It’s recorded in Romans 8:29 “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
What this means is that you and I who believe in Christ Jesus have been chosen and picked out by God the Father for this very purpose. We can testify of His presence in us because He chosen us in Him before the world began.
According as he has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world… Ephesians 1:3
Jesus explained this to His disciples, so they would be full of joy and peace.
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I HAVE CHOSEN YOU, and ORDAINED you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain.
The spiritual meaning of our election in Christ is perhaps the most powerful life-changing story ever told. Having been in the ministry for over 3o years I have often seen believers struggling with their faith. Not being certain of their acceptance of God, often bound in their own mind by the superstition, legend and folklore that surrounds the word of truth. What profound love breaks through to the inner most part of your soul.
“Knowing, brethren beloved, your ELECTION of God.”
1Thessalonians 1:4
It is an amazing experience. The joy and liberty that comes to your whole heart and mind as you discover that salvation is not a matter of personal strengths or weakness nor is it the exclusive property of religious traditions and interpretations. Salvation belongs to the Lord and was given to us, in Him, from before the world began.
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” 2 Timothy 1:9
God has chosen us in Christ. He has called us to share in His divine plan. Whose purpose is to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, and establish His righteous dominion in every creature through faith. Equip the saints with divine power and the understanding of all things.
It was to this end that St. Paul cried out in Romans 8:33 “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s ELECT? It is God that justifieth. Knowing that God the Father has already made provision for us to be declared righteous and just, through the blood of Jesus (Romans 3:22) asks rhetorically, already knowing the answer, “What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
CHURCH / EKKLESIA:
God has also given great privileges to His elect ones. We have inherited a spiritual office and seat of authority, to sit with Him in heavenly places in Christ. To execute the judgments written... this honor have all the saints. Ps. 149:9
The natural and the spiritual are parallel again as we compare the privilege of those elected to public office and those elected to the truth.
The word ELECT is derived from the Greek, Strong’s reference # G1588 ekletos, (eklektos) meaning: picked out, chosen; 1a chosen by God. It's meaning is closely related to the term for The Church or called out ones.
The word derived from the Greek is ekklesia. Strong’s reference G1577 ekklesia from a compound of 1537 ek, meaning out from and 2564 kaleo, which means to call or invite.
Thus the Church-Ekklesia is a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place or assembly. An assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating. In addition the meaning can also be defined as any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance.
In this same way those elected to Congress must leave their ordinary way of life and assemble together for the purpose of conducting the business of the people. They have authority to execute the laws and decide the policies and rules by which the citizens will conduct their lives.
Like those elected to office we are called out from the natural course of our lives, to gather together in Christ’s Body as one new man. The epistle to the Hebrews states that “ We have come… To the general assembly and church of the firstborn...Hebrews 12:22,23
In this realm we also deliberate the issues and conduct of the citizens of Heaven and Earth. The scriptures confirm that we shall judge (discriminate and discern) angels as well as the inhabitants of the nations.
1Corinthians 6:2... Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you… vs.3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels?
RUN THE RACE:
Another metaphor that gives deeper meaning to the political process is running for the office itself. Candidates must first win the right to run for office. If they are chosen in the primary then they have the authority to run and win office.
Like an Olympic event, running a race would require intense training, dedication and a disciplined regimen in order to win. In the political process each candidate must RUN for office and do everything it takes to win. It implies desire, training, trials, disciplines, energy and commitment. The candidate that brings together these qualities consistently, honestly and energetically will have a good chance to win the race for office.
In this same way you and I have been chosen by God, from the primeval beginnings of time to run a race for the righteousness in Christ. To win an inheritance that is in Him with power, blessing and honor.
St. Paul, believed that to win the fullness of Christ, we needed to have a strong and fervent desire toward the reward of faith and likened it to those running in a race. He asks, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye might obtain. “ 1Corinthians 9:24
He likened spiritual growth to this very race in Christ. To rid ourselves of those things, which hold us back. To continue to find the reason and meaning for Christ’s call upon your life. To run the race without distraction of the world, to endure all things and allow no other burden outweigh the cost of seeking and living in Christ.
Philippians 3:8 states Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them as dung that I may win Christ.
What St. Paul was saying is that at the root of what motivated His desire to win the fullness of God was the passion to know the meaning of truth and life, and deeply apply it to his own heart. He wanted to walk as He walked and to think as He thought to do as He did. His purpose was to do whatever it takes no matter what sacrifice, whatever the price he desired to win Christ.
Now we have the right to run the race of holiness and peace, while pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ. We are raised up together with Christ to sit in heavenly places with authority and power to manifest the Kingdom of God on earth and inherit the dominion of the Most High. Let us run this race to WIN.
FORERUNNERS:
For those who are planning to run for public office, it’s a smart thing to study the plans, strategies and legacies of those who ran before. As we prepare to elect the 44th person to serve as President of the United States, I am sure that both Senators Obama and McCain have taken time to study the record of many presidential forerunners who won the office.
But when it comes to those who are running this race to lay hold of life and immortality, Jesus Himself, is our pattern for victory. There is only ONE forerunner whose plan, purpose and strategy alone, will enable us to obtain the victory in this race for life. He has already entered in to that which is beyond the veil of flesh as a forerunner.
Hebrews 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedec.
Like us, Jesus was chosen or elected (within the counsel of God) for this very purpose.
“Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Acts 2:23
1Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, ELECT, precious: he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.
Jesus overcame every temptation to sin and did not allow the efforts of others to defeat Him from the pursuit of doing His Father’s will. Though He ultimately knew He was facing the cross, He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. Jesus did so carrying our burdens, shame and transgressions upon Himself
(Heb. 1:3) Yet it was not possible for death to hold him in the unseen realm of Sheoul. (Acts 2:24-27) He endured the cross, despising the shame and as a result, is set down at the right hand of God, angels, principalities and powers being made subject unto him. (Hebrews 12:2; 1Peter 3:22) He rose triumphant from the dead and ascended high above the heavens and has taken us with Him into heavenly places so that we might know and understand the all the mysteries that surround our election, union and victory in Him. (Ephesians 1:1-21, 2:6,3:4)
Which is why we are admonished to keep looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith and being compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset us and let us RUN with patience the RACE that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)
By a new and living way we have been chosen and elected to run for the office of the high calling of God in Christ. Leaving behind the heavy weight of the natural world and its temporary nature, we are running to obtain the prize of the full and unlimited meaning of Christ in us our Hope of Glory.
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