Franklin Graham: Christ Our Sovereign King

Franklin Graham: Christ Our Sovereign King

As I write, there are ongoing legal challenges by President Donald Trump contesting the election results because of possible voting irregularities and fraud in the presidential election in several key battleground states. The final vote outcome in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, Georgia and Arizona, where the margins are razor thin, will determine the electoral count. 

Even though some media outlets projected former Vice President Joe Biden had won the necessary electoral votes, President Trump has said he will take his legal challenges all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.  

I greatly appreciate how President Trump has kept his campaign promises to protect religious liberty for millions of people, fought for the rights of the unborn and appointed hundreds of conservative judges and three Supreme Court justices. Remarkably, he has also helped secure peace deals between Israel and several Middle East countries—something no one thought possible. 

All this has come about despite relentless attacks by mainstream media, baseless accusations about Russian collusion and a level of hate that I have never seen in my lifetime. 

The Bible clearly instructs us in 1 Timothy 2:1-2: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

I pray that all our leaders would seek God’s wisdom and that Biblical values would guide their decisions. I pray that they recognize that all authority—including government—has been established by Almighty God (Romans 13:1) and that the role of such authorities is to reward good behavior and punish evil (Romans 13:4).  

We are in a fight to see our nation turn back to God, because Americans have turned our backs on Him. If we continue to ignore His commands in Scripture and pursue and commend those things that God hates, we will reap the bitter consequences. I pray for God’s mercy. 

One of the greatest threats to our nation is the radical progressive agenda pushed by so many politicians who happen to be on the Democratic side. Party affiliation aside, we need to be clear that this agenda and the people who promote it want to cast aside the traditional moral and ethical values that have been the backbone of our nation for centuries. 

At this point, to keep this radical agenda from being imposed on America, the crucial turning point will be the Jan. 5 runoff election in Georgia that will decide two Senate seats. The Senate has been a conservative bulwark against the progressives. Should the Democrats win and gain control of the Senate along with Joe Biden in the White House, there would be no check and balance. I encourage Christians nationwide to pray about these races, since the outcome is of tremendous significance to every American. 

Regardless of the election results, however, I remain steadfastly confident in God’s sovereign plan and authority. I do not put my hope in either the Republican or Democratic party. My hope is in God Almighty. 

The aging Apostle John wrote in the Book of Revelation that Jesus Christ is “the ruler over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5). Jesus told his disciples following His resurrection that “all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). The writer of Proverbs proclaimed that “the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1). 

Abraham Kuyper was a committed follower of Jesus Christ who was the prime minister of the Netherlands from 1901 to 1905. He famously said that “there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, Who is sovereign over all, does not cry, ‘Mine’!” I agree with him! 

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we should do all we can to lift up His Name as we actively participate in the political process. We need to support candidates whose policies most closely align with Biblical values. 

However, the Scripture plainly and clearly tells us that our ultimate allegiance is to the Lord Jesus Christ: “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). 

I am nearing 70 years old. Only the Lord knows how many days or years I have left. I hope it is many, since I want to proclaim the Gospel to as many people as I can for as long as I can! My father was still preaching Christ in Crusades well into his 80s, because he loved seeing men, women and children come forward in repentance and faith in the living Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

Think how wonderful it will be to see the Second Coming of the Savior. Can you imagine how glorious that will be? The Apostle John described it for us in vivid terms: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. … And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11-12, 16).

As the well-known pastor Dr. S.M. Lockridge, who died in 2000 and served on the faculty of the Billy Graham Schools of Evangelism, once so powerfully preached: “The Bible says my King is a seven-way King. He’s the King of the Jews, that’s a racial King. He’s the King of Israel, that’s a national King. He’s the King of righteousness. He’s the King of the ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of glory. He is the King of kings, and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King. Well, I wonder, do you know Him?” 

 

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version.

Photo: David K. Morrison/©2020 Samaritan's Purse

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