A RIGHT PERSPECTIVE

Yesterday two events took place. One that everyone knows about, the other, only a few. The presidential election swept through our nation like a torrent. Most of us were glued to our TV sets. It was an important event, no doubt. Nevertheless, whatever the results life in America will go on, perhaps with hiccups, but most of our lives will be essentially the same. You will still wake up and eat breakfast tomorrow. You will still have to rake those falling leaves. Also on election day, Nick Challies, the son of Christian blogger Tim Challies, collapsed on the ground and died. He was way too young. He attended college in Louisville. When I heard the news the Spirit jolted me into a convicting reality. I had been tracking the presidential election and secretly resting my hopes on the result. I was majoring on what was minor. Elections are a minor. Death is not a minor. In fact death is the paragon of all “majors.” It is an absolute finality that causes our hearts to quake when we think about it. When one dies one thing alone matters, “Is that person right with God or not?” In four years another election will come and all of us will get another crack at the voter’s box. Death offers no such second chance. Tim Challies will never see his son again this side of heaven. The loss is grievous…. and final. Death ends all elections: indeed it is the final election. Imagine electing a president forever. You get the point. So tonight I plead with myself and with you not to put more emphasis on things than they deserve. Elections deserve our attention, but not much. Death deserves all our attention. It ought to be a frequent theme of our meditation. Death is not a minor. Nick Challies is gone.

Oh, did I forgot to mention? Nick knew the Lord Jesus Christ. He didn’t really die after all. He only sleeps. And someday he will rise again in that last day and will vote in no election. Rather he will serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. Forever. Thank you Jesus.