For unto us a Child is born; Unto to us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.  Isaiah 9:6-7 HCSB

Now when Isaiah prophesied to King Ahaz about this child that was to be born and said that the government shall be upon His shoulders, many people were looking for a political ruler.  They were looking for a child to be born of a royal family.  They were looking for a king, you know, the kind with the robe and the crown and all that stuff.  Now Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father was of the lineage of king David.  So there was a king in the bloodline, but we all know that Jesus came to earth in very humble circumstances and was born of a young virgin and her carpenter husband.  So no glitz and glam here.  Jesus just slid right in under the radar except for those wise men and the shepherds.  Even King Herod thought that this baby that had been born threatened his throne.  Silly King Herod.  Jesus was not that kind of king, he was the King of Kings.

Now we can look at Ahaz and Herod and feel sorry for the poor kings with no clue, but don’t we often do the same thing.  You see they expected this savior to come in the form of a politician.  Now we can look at them and think they are totally off their rocker, right?  But don’t we do the same thing?

We should vote.  We should carefully vet whoever it is that we vote for.  We should see how their thoughts and decisions line up with what’s in the bible.  We should try to determine whether they are a God fearing person or whether they are prideful and wrapped up in themselves.  But we should never, ever count on them for salvation.  Let me say this again, we should never, ever, ever count on a politician for salvation.  Just as those people back in the days of Jesus’ birth were counting on a politician to come and save them, we should never do that.

Our scripture passage today tells us that the government would be on the shoulders of this baby that was to be born.  Well, thank God, this baby was born and the government is on His shoulders.  So, while I carefully try to find the most Christian person I can to vote for, I count on Jesus Christ for my salvation.  I  know that He’s got this.  I am not going to argue politics with you, because a politician can’t save me.  So if you want to go around arguing about how awful this political figure is or how great that one is, go right ahead but I won’t be joining in.  You see, my King is Jesus Christ.  My ruler is Jesus Christ.  My faith is in Jesus Christ.  I pray that yours is also.

We live in a world where scandal has become the norm for our politicians.  We need to pray for our leaders at all levels.  We need to pray for God to send Christian men and women into the political arena.  Then we need to pray for him to protect them against becoming corrupted.

Just the other day I ran into a friend who was telling me that a group of Christian ladies met and one mentioned the president and it turned into a heated argument where some stormed out before the meeting was over.  Seriously?

Isaiah was trying to tell Ahaz that if he and his people did not turn to the Lord that Assyria was going to take them captive.  But they weren’t willing to listen.  You see, God is a God of justice, He disciplines His children. We better wake up and smell the coffee here.

Billy Graham told of his wife, Ruth, reading the draft of a book he was writing.  He had written a section on the downward spiral of our nations morals.  He spoke of idolatry running rampant with the worshiping of false gods of technology and sex.  He said that his wife exclaimed, “If God doesn’t punish America, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.”

Judgement day is coming my friend.  Don’t put your faith in the powers that be, put your faith in the only Power there is.  Put your faith in Jesus Christ.  If you read about these rebellious idol worshiping nations being punished and being destroyed and taken captive, you will notice that God’s people always faired well.  They always wound up in good positions. They were always well taken care of and protected.  Don’t take my word for it.  Read about Joseph being sold into slavery in Genesis.  Read the books of Daniel, Nehemiah, and Esther.  God takes care of those of us who are in close relationship with Him. Take just a minute to read the last verse again, the increase of His government and peace shall have no end.  I choose to be governed by the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords where there is no end to His peace.

So, I don’t know about you, but I’m sticking close to my Lord and Savior.  I know where my salvation comes from.  My prayer for you today is that you understand and do the same.

Have a great day!