Change You Can Really Believe In
June 8, 2008
On June 3, Senator Barak Obama became the first Black man in the history of the United States to secure the Democratic nomination for the Office of President. Regardless of one’s political affiliation, that fact alone is reason for celebration. Obama captured the hearts of millions of Americans (and persons from other countries) with his visionary promise, “Change you can believe in.” This message resonates with people in our nation. Economic stressors, concerns with our health and educational systems, extensive problems with our infrastructure (remember those collapsing bridges?), and an incredibly expensive war with no perceivable end sent a record number of Americans to the polls. Is Obama the “man with the plan?” We shall see. Indeed, our country needs change - not more mindless party verbatim and empty promises. We need a fresh, articulated, keenly communicated and carefully executed course of action for this country; a course of action that will embolden our sense of national pride and restore the United States to a position of respectability in the world.But is that all we need? Many people are looking to Obama as if he were some type of messiah. Unfortunately, they neglect the actual Messiah. This is a grave mistake. God tells us, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord” (Jer. 17:5, KJV). Why does the Lord say this? Because he knows that true change - enduring, profitable, lasting change - is possible only through him. If Barak (or McCain, for that matter) solved every problem our country has, he would still do nothing to lift us from our base nature and reconnect us with heaven. Only God can do that, and he does it through his son. Christians are “Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith . . . abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Col. 2:7). Folks, that’s change you can really believe in. Let’s think about it! -JLNJR
