Why I Don’t Despair Despite the Dismal Political Climate

Our current political climate in this country looks downright dismal. But I’m not discouraged or dismayed.

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Don’t get me wrong—our nation stands at a political crossroads. And this crossroads is not particularly pretty.

• Inflation continues to hurt average Americans.

• The national debt rises higher and higher.

• The border crisis creates mayhem in our communities.

• Meanwhile—with problems plaguing us at home—some in the ruling political class wish to keep fighting and funding foreign wars.

• The Washington elites say they want to protect our global “neighbors,” yet strangely these same pundits seem uninterested in protecting a former president. Really? Not one assassination attempt but two? And Trump is a danger to democracy?

• And the mainstream media? Don’t even get me started on their so-called truth claims. Whether biased or incompetent—or both—the press hardly cares about accuracy in reporting.

• Did I mention that we still cannot agree on what a boy is?

All things considered, it’s no wonder why I have heard—more now than at any other time in all of my pastoral ministry—many people quoting Revelation 22:20, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Who can blame them?

So no, I won’t blame you if you too are feeling pretty pessimistic at this particular juncture in human history. Indeed things are looking rather bleak, aren’t they? You certainly don’t need a PhD from Princeton to know that we are in a hot political mess right now.

Why I Am Not Dismayed

As for me, I’m not gonna lie—I do feel disappointed. I’m disappointed by what I see happening at present in my beloved country. And what I see is the opposite of human flourishing. We are, in so many ways, living in a day of human disintegration and decay. Call it human degradation or defacement or disfigurement or whatever you will—it’s bad and ugly, not good and beautiful.

But let’s be clear about something: Despite my disappointment, I am not devastated or distraught.

Let me explain.

Every book has its own plot—and within that plot are all sorts of plots and subplots. You see, good authors know how to tell a good story. They include characters, conflict, setting, climax, and resolution, among other things.

Now think of human history like a good book.

You see, God, the chief Author of this book, is a master storyteller. And God, who knows the beginning from the end and never misses a detail, is weaving together quite the grand narrative.

In 2024 you may be tempted to think that Trump or Harris is the central figure in this story. Who will win in November? After all, it’s the most consequential election of our lifetime!

Folks, I care about this year’s election. I really do. I can assure you that I’ll be there to cast my vote. But I have news for you: November 5 is not the climax to this epic story.

Nope, the climax already happened two thousand years ago—in 33 A.D.

When Jesus hung on the cross and rose victorious three days later and then ascended to heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father—in theological terms we call this Christ’s exaltation, or coronation—the meaning and trajectory of human history came into full focus.

In layman's terms, Christ won the victory, is winning, and will win.

End of story. Except, actually, it’s not the end of the story. In fact, in this grand story—which God the Author initiates and orchestrates—Christ is just getting started.

We read the “beginnings” of this better story in the opening chapters of Acts. The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost. Thousands repent and trust in Jesus. The church is born. But the baby doesn’t stay in diapers forever. The church grows and matures. And like a healthy woman in her prime, the church reproduces again and again. Before long, her offspring spread far and wide.

But contrary to the common but mythical “to hell and a hand basket” mantra we often hear about our world, the gospel has actually spread with stunning success over the past two millennia.

Don’t believe me?

How else do you explain the fact that a little-known message of a crucified and risen Messiah went from mustard seed origins in and around Jerusalem to imperial Rome (in a short span of 25-30 years) and then all around the world (from Europe to America and Africa and Asia and back), in spite of all sorts of regular and repeated persecutions?

The only explanation: King Jesus, as promised in Matthew 16:18, is leading his church to prevail against the very gates of hell. The ruling and reigning Jesus—according to his glorious crown rights, given to him at his ascension—is on the offensive, not the defensive. Jesus is not playing “not to lose.” The King has won, is winning, and will win.

What does that mean for this November?

• Will Trump win? I have no clue.

• Will Harris win? Again, no clue.

• Will the election be free and fair? I hope so but don’t know so.

• Will America ever be the same? I can’t answer that—the side plots and subplots are above my pay grade.

What I can say for sure is that Christ “must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Cor. 15:25).

The King is sure to reign until he has eliminated every last enemy. What that means entirely in practice, I don’t yet fully know.

But one thing is certain, to quote a stanza from “In Christ Alone” by Keith Getty:

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

The political picture may not be looking so good at the moment. But I’m not too worried. Nor will I lose any sleep over it.

Because my King still rules and reigns over all. And his kingdom and its coming will not be stopped.