The Morning After: Jesus Is Still King

When political power changes hands, our hope doesn't have to.

Wow. That wasn’t the election night a lot of people were expecting.

This morning, Americans are waking up to a changing political landscape. Some are celebrating. Others are disappointed, perhaps even shocked.

Those feelings are real. Elections matter. Leadership matters. But before we become overwhelmed by what happened yesterday, I want to remind you of something.

Jesus Christ is still King.

Growing up in Michigan, we played a game called King of the Hill. During winter, snowplows would create enormous mountains of snow, and we’d scramble to the top while trying to knock everyone else down.

I’m pretty sure that game would violate about seventeen school safety policies today. Back then, we called it recess.

But here’s what I remember. Nobody stayed on top forever. Eventually, somebody knocked you down.

History tells the same story.

I’ve been preaching through the book of Daniel, and chapter 8 describes a remarkable vision of kingdoms rising and falling. A ram represents the Medo-Persian Empire. A powerful goat represents Greece, led by Alexander the Great. Alexander conquered much of the known world in roughly a decade, but at just 32 years old, he died.

His empire was divided, and other rulers rose, including Antiochus Epiphanes, who brutally persecuted the Jewish people. Eventually, he died too.

Persia rises. Greece rises. Alexander rises. Antiochus rises. And every one of them falls.

The pattern never stops. Julius Caesar and Napoleon once held extraordinary power. Lenin, Stalin, Mao, and Hitler were names that caused people to tremble with fear. Now they're just names in a history book.

But here’s the thing. Trusting God’s sovereignty doesn’t mean we stop caring about what happens in our country.

Daniel certainly didn’t. After seeing the suffering coming upon his people, he was overcome and lay sick for days.

Think about that. Nothing in that vision caught heaven by surprise. And yet Daniel was physically sickened by what he saw.

He grieved.

Sometimes Christians confuse trusting God’s sovereignty with not caring. But faith isn’t indifference.

And sometimes, when I look at our nation, I’m deeply grieved. Perhaps you’re feeling some of that this morning.

Daniel reminds us we don’t have to pretend everything is fine just because we believe God is in control. We can trust God’s purposes and still grieve over what happens in our world.

There’s one more detail in Daniel 8 that I find especially encouraging this morning:

“And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and did the king’s business, and I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.” (Daniel 8:27, ESV)

Notice that last part. Daniel didn’t understand it. He didn’t have it all figured out. He was still troubled. But he got up and went back to work anyway.

And consider whose business it was. The king Daniel served was Belshazzar, a pagan ruler whose kingdom was about to fall! Daniel served faithfully under an earthly king while trusting the everlasting King.

That’s a pretty good model for the morning after an election.

Whatever happened yesterday, your calling today remains unchanged. You still have a family to love, a church to serve, neighbors to help, and a gospel to share. You’re still called to pray for those in authority, including those you didn’t vote for, to seek the good of your community, and to speak the truth.

Our calling doesn’t change every time our government does.

We can be involved without being consumed. Concerned without being terrified. Disappointed without being defeated.

The King Who Never Falls

One chapter earlier, Daniel saw the Ancient of Days seated on His throne and “one like a son of man” receiving an everlasting kingdom. Daniel 7:14 says:

“His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Christians recognize this Son of Man as Jesus Christ.

Jesus didn’t come to conquer with an army. He came to save sinners by giving His life. The rulers of His day thought they’d defeated Him when they nailed Him to a cross. But three days later, Jesus walked out of the tomb.

Philippians 2 tells us that God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every name. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Every president, dictator, and king who has ever lived will acknowledge His authority.

So whatever you’re feeling about yesterday’s election, pray for our country. Pray for our leaders. Stay engaged. Speak the truth. Love your neighbor. And keep doing the work God has called you to do.

Because the most important throne in the universe wasn’t on the ballot yesterday.

And the One seated upon it isn’t going anywhere.