Note: It’s Election Day. That photo was taken at our polling location at 6:40 a.m. The line goes down this side of the building and turns to the left in the distance. Never have I seen anything like this here.

Today – November 3, 2020 – is Election Day here in the United States of America. (And to my foreign readers, apologies, but I have some in-house stuff to deal with.)

Ever since I began this blog, my desire was this to be a safe harbor, a place where hope and encouragement ruled. I haven’t wavered from my own personal mandate.

So, if I use this space to talk about politics and this being Election Day, then you might say, “Dang, Tony. What’s encouraging about that?!”

Let me show you. You’ll feel better after I’m done with you.

There is no question that we are a house divided today. Opinions might vary as to the extent of that division, but we are indeed two different countries. You’d have to go back to 1861 or so to see such a division. (We were ultimately stronger after 1865, but that’s outside of the scope of this particular blog post. It might be something I could visit at another time.)

At any rate, since this is Election Day and all, I need to make a point (or two points) that you’d best not forget, especially if you’re wringing your hands:

If Joe Biden is elected president, it’s because God has allowed it.

If Donald Trump is reelected president, it’s because God has allowed it.

Read that again.

I could spend chapter and verse showing you why that is so. Carve this in stone:

There is nothing that can happen in any voting booth that will thwart the will of God.

As I write this, I haven’t voted yet. I’ll be a good citizen, exercise a right that is but a fantasy to some people in other countries, and vote my conscience and convictions.

”But Tony,” you say. “How could God be in favor of _____________ being president? Look at who he is and what he stands for. Where’s God in that?”

To answer that, we’re going to have a little biblical history lesson. If you’ve read this far, you really need to stick with me.

I need to take you all the way back to 558 B.C. Meet Cyrus II (The Great.)

Cyrus ruled Persia from 558 to 530 B.C. Whereas previous empires had dominated the Middle East with military might, Cyrus combined might with diplomacy by allowing various captive nations to return home and by setting up a decentralized government.

He was certainly not a believer in the One True God. That’s important to remember.

With that in mind this Election Day, check out what the old prophet Isaiah said in ancient script:

Isaiah 45:1
“This is what the LORD says to his anointed,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of
to subdue nations before him
and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
so that gates will not be shut.

See how Isaiah identified Cyrus? The “Lord’s Anointed?” Whaaa…?

Here’s this, from Ezra 1:2-4

“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
“‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”

God’s anointed did that. Cyrus’ Persians conquered the Babylonians in 539 B.C. and he later allowed the Jews to return to their homeland.

You’re probably a couple of steps ahead of me by now, but that’s okay. Great minds work alike.

Point is – God used this really unlikely leader so that His purposes might be fulfilled.

Cyrus’ anointing is figurative, to be sure, but God was empowering him for the task of returning the Jews to their homeland. The word Messiah means anointed—because God would specially prepare that special One to redeem his people—but Cyrus was not the Messiah. He was just a leader prepared by God for a unique task.

I could make some other biblical cases of unlikely leaders God used. Pharaoh comes to mind. Herod, too.

Here’s the bottom line, and I  mean this.

If Joe Biden is elected, it’s because he’s anointed by God, and God’s purposes will be fulfilled.

If Donald Trump is reelected, it’s because he’s anointed by God, and God’s purposes will be fulfilled.

What are God’s purposes? Simply that, on this Election Day, He will ultimately be glorified.

It may be that the United States is under God’s remedial judgment even right now. Perhaps God is using these days to usher in a new dawn of hope for America.

I don’t know.

What I do know is that God is in total unquestionable control, and He will use whatever tools at His disposal, human and otherwise, to bring glory to Himself.

As a believer, I simply am submitting to Him because He has a perspective of history that I don’t. He knows the outcome. He keeps His own counsel. I trust Him because He is faithful.

If you turn in early tonight, or if you follow the election returns until you can’t anymore, know that the outcome is firmly gripped by God Himself.

And, as always, His will will be done.

Relax. He has His purposes. He is guiding us all toward the climax of history, when this country, and this world, will be rolled up like a rotten papyrus scroll and ended.

The United States is a drop in the bucket, resting on the rim, and moments away from dripping into the hot sands of time and vanishing.

Until such time, we watch, we pray, we do as we’re commanded, and we rest in the knowledge that the mighty God is directing history and the leaders of this time like a watercourse.

Sounds comforting to me. Be encouraged. Hopelessness is not an option.