Blue face, red face—why we won’t find our satisfaction in either
By Dean Collins
Which face is better? Blue or red?
No matter what you’ve decided about the election just completed, most can agree on one point: With a record number of votes cast, the result shows a nation deeply divided. Millions have chosen one color while believing the other is the enemy. And many Christians are in the thick of this controversy.
I’m no historian, but even a brief knowledge of American history reminds us that political division is nothing new. Even in our formative days as a nation, the struggle to ratify a constitution displayed strong differences of opinion around governance. The Federalists and the Democratic Republicans were center stage in the battle for how to run the country. More than 200 years later we still have two parties deeply divided in their opinions and policies.
I’m neither a spokesperson for either political party nor an expert on government policy. But I am pretty confident that most of us aren’t, either, even though we act as if we fully grasp the trusted and reliable truth. And usually, based on a few social media posts and a glance or two at our favorite TV news outlet, we suddenly claim we have it all figured out. So we shout about it quite loudly to friends, family, and most anyone who will listen. Red surrounds Donald Trump; blue is the face of Joe Biden. We know which is better. And if we’re not sure, strident voices clamor to convince us.
One righteous face
But this post isn’t about the faces of politics. Whichever face you voted for and whatever color you back, I can promise you will not have complete satisfaction. Oh, your team might be in charge for awhile, but someday they will again be the losers. Political fortunes ebb and flow. The psalmist declared there is one righteous face we will someday see. He didn’t run in any election. No one spent billions so he could govern. He wasn’t red or blue. If we had to make an educated assumption we would say, based on his mother’s genetics, his skin was likely brown .
The psalmist says not only shall we behold this face, we will be satisfied with his likeness. The satisfaction won’t be because he is handsome like all the pictures. In fact, the Scripture indicates otherwise. His face will satisfy us because he is the one who paid the price for our sin. He is the one who gives us peace. He is the one who fights our battles. He is the one who gives us rest. His name is wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, and prince of peace. While other leaders, faces, governments will come and go, his reign and his government will never end.
Satisfaction guaranteed
Hold to his path so your feet won’t slip. Your political leader will fade away, but Jesus will never leave you. When you call he will always answer. (Just try getting through to the next president!) King Jesus will lean in when we speak. He will always give us refuge in the storm. He will keep our enemies at bay. He looks at us as special and will hold us close to his side.
Even if your red or blue leader executes every policy perfectly, without Jesus your satisfaction will last only for a short time. Maybe we should focus on the eternal play that offers complete satisfaction.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 17:1-8, 15 ESV
Photo by José Luís de Oliveira on Unsplash
