I do not know what will happen on election night. We could wake up the next day with renewed hope for a better future. On the other hand, we could wake up with the America we have known and loved about to be extinguished. As important as this election is, something more important and far more powerful is in the offing. No matter who wins, in a few more weeks, we will begin the season of Advent as we prepare for the celebration of Christmas. It is a season of remembrance reflecting that none of the powers of this world, whether good or bad, have dominion over the power and purpose of God manifested by the birth of a vulnerable, fragile baby in Bethlehem.
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus should have terrorized the powers of the world who believed they were the almighty ones. It should have but they were only mildly agitated. The birth of a new born king of the Jews disturbed but did not frighten Herod. He knew he was an illegitimate puppet king beholden to Rome, so he took the precaution of killing all the Bethlehem boys under two; but he couldn’t kill Jesus.
Thirty some years later Jesus threatened the status of the temple authorities and power of Rome by declaring that every earthly authority was subordinate and accountable to God. It seemed a simple enough move to destroy his outrageous claims by putting him to death as a criminal hung on a cross. After all, that had worked with other rebellious pretend messiahs. Jesus’ Resurrection not only defeated them but revealed him to be who he said he was, the manifestation of God incarnate to whom they would be held accountable.
What was true then is true now. Earthly powers who claim to be almighty will be held accountable.Jesus warned us that agents of selfishness, greed, and lust for power will continue to do their evil best and gloat over their apparent victory, but they are already defeated in the greater power of the Resurrection. When the people of God remain stalwart in their faith, when they refuse to surrender, when they stand up to evil even apparent victory will prove to be an illusion. But even if the people of God fail in their courage, the purpose of God for the redemption of the world will not.