The Kinds of People God Chooses to Use

Two months from today, millions will stream to the polls and vote in another important General Election. (Unless they’ve already opted for early voting to beat the rush.) One of the most cherished rights of our democratic republic is being able to vote, to collectively choose who will be representing us at the various levels of government. The Presidential race will command the most attention, but many other important offices also will be at stake. 

 

Conscientious voting can be challenging, choosing which candidates are most qualified. Alas, sometimes we look at the candidates and shrug our shoulders in resignation, concluding there’s not much to choose from. If only God would reveal which one’s the best.

 

Many factors can enter into voting decisions, two of them being the specific individuals seeking to be elected, and the policies they espouse. For many of us, character is an important criterion. We would like to be able to choose individuals of great integrity, unquestioned moral conviction and behavior, not tempted by greed and personal interests, and other admirable qualities.

 

Unfortunately, maybe because traditional and social media are so adept at beaming harsh lights on transgressions major and minor, it seems people possessing the traits listed above are harder and harder to find. 

 

For this reason, rather than holding their noses while casting their ballots, some eligible voters will opt not to vote at all. That’s their choice. Voting is a right, not a requirement. But in reading the Scriptures, I’ve discovered that if we’re searching for leaders demonstrating sterling character and flawless perfection, it’s a very short list. A list of one: Jesus Christ.

 

Everyone else in the Bible, even those celebrated as heroes of the faith, possessed more warts than some toads. It’s amazing to consider the kinds of people God has used in the past to accomplish His purposes. A comprehensive list could fill a hefty book. So, we’ll just look at a handful of the misfits the Lord selected to lead and intervene on behalf of His chosen people.

 

Speaking of God’s chosen people, we’ll start with Jacob, who was later renamed Israel. He became the namesake for the ancient Israelites, their descendants being referred to as God’s “chosen people” to this day. This was despite the fact he was remarkably short on scruples.

 

His given name, Jacob, can be translated “to supplant or overreach,” which is exactly what he did in scheming to steal his brother Esau’s birthright. Then he compounded the deed, deceiving Isaac, his nearly blind father, to snatch the patriarch’s special blessing from Esau. Double whammy! You can find this account in Genesis 27-28. Nevertheless, God used him.

 

Then there was strong man Samson, one of history’s first superheroes. His story is recorded in Judges 13-16. We’re told, “…the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5). On several occasions “…the Spirit of the Lord came upon him with power” (Judges 14:19) and Samson performed great feats of courage and strength.

 

Unfortunately, he had an eye for the ladies, including one seductress named Delilah. The rulers of the Philistines bribed her to find out the source of Samson’s strength. After several attempts, he confided in her the promise God had made. As a result, the Philistines were able to subdue him, gouging out his eyes and throwing him into prison. But Samson had the last laugh so to speak, literally bringing the house down by toppling the central pillars of their pagan temple, killing everyone in it including himself.

 

King David was described by God as “a man with a heart after My own heart” (Acts 13:22). That sounds good, right? And yet, as we read starting in 1 Samuel 16 through the opening chapters of 1 Kings, he was an adulterer, a murderer, and the head of perhaps the most dysfunctional family in history. How could the Lord use a person like that?

 

The key was that when confronted by his sins, David was genuinely repentant, humbly acknowledging his wrongdoing without making excuses. God not only used him to reign over the Israelites but also to author many of the Psalms. In one of his penitential psalms, David wrote:

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:10-12).

 

We could cite many others with major flaws and shortcomings, such as Moses, King Solomon, and the apostles Peter, Paul, James, John and Thomas. But the point is simple: If God chooses, He can and will use anyone and anything to accomplish His divine purposes. As Proverbs 16:4 states, “The Lord works out everything for His own ends – even the wicked for a day of disaster” (Proverbs 16:4).

 

As election day nears, as we weigh both character and where candidates stand on important issues, we all will be hoping to see our favorites receive the most votes. However, our confidence should be anchored in God alone. 

From the book of Proverbs, we have these assurances that ultimately, God is in control: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30). This should give us unwavering hope. 

How Do You Think Jesus Would Vote?

Remember the popular bracelet of years ago with the letters “WWJD”? In case you’ve had a memory lapse or spent those years on a remote island with no outside contact, they represented the words, “What Would Jesus Do.”  

This phrase originated in Charles M. Sheldon’s 1896 novel, In His Steps, about a pastor who challenged his congregation to do nothing of consequence without first asking, “What would Jesus do?” It told stories of people whose lives were transformed by using this simple question to guide their actions and decisions.

 

The bracelets aren’t often seen today. But the question still arises from time to time, and it’s still important. For instance, staring at a computer screen when questionable material pops up, asking what Jesus would do might help in overcoming temptation. When a cashier mistakenly gives too much change and we start to think about keeping the excess, asking what Jesus would do might nudge us to point out the mistake. Considering how to use an unexpected bonus at work or sudden windfall, it might be interesting to ponder how Jesus would use it.

 

Recently, the question arose during a casual conversation with a friend. We’d ventured into the realm of politics and the upcoming Presidential election. At one point my friend paraphrased the slogan by asking, “How do you think Jesus would vote?”

 

We exchanged comments, but afterward it had me thinking. For questions of a spiritual nature, I’ve realized my opinion isn’t any better or worse than anyone else’s. What does matter is God’s opinion.

 

Based on what the Scriptures tell us, we might say the question of how Jesus would vote is moot. Because nowhere in the Gospels do we see Jesus Christ engaging in political activism. Even though the oppressive Roman empire was a major problem in those days. The one exception might be in Matthew 22:15-22, when the religious leaders sought to trap Him in controversy by asking, “Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar of not?” 

 

In response, Jesus asked that a coin used for paying the tax – a denarius – be brought to Him. Looking at it, He inquired, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” When his adversaries responded it was that of Caesar, Jesus replied, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

 

The only other recorded time Jesus directly engaged with Roman authorities was during the trial that led to His crucifixion. When confronted by Pontius Pilate, who asked, “Are You the king of the Jews?” Jesus didn’t mount an elaborate defense or challenge Pilate’s authority from Rome. His response was, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36).

 

Politics and earthly governmental affairs were not Jesus’ mission.

 

That’s not to say followers of Christ shouldn’t participate in the election process, or even seek public office if they feel led to do so. Because the Bible gives us numerous examples of devout people God used to accomplish His purposes, including: 

Joseph, who rose to rank second only to Pharaoh in Egypt, using his influence to save his family and the people of Israel from a severe famine. 

Daniel, one of the Israelites exiled to Babylon, who became an important advisor to three kings – Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius. 

Ezra and Nehemiah, who were commissioned by the kings of Persia and Babylon to rebuild the ruined city of Jerusalem. 

 

So, with a crucial election coming up, it might be better to revise the question a bit. How would God want us to vote? There are many criteria we can use, including candidates’ qualifications and character, and where they stand on issues we deem to be important. 

 

As is often the case in the complex world in which we live, there are few easy answers. For followers of Christ, we’d be wise to do as the Bereans did in Acts 17:11 – “they examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” I’d suggest that the Bible can give us similar insight as we ponder the perplexities of politics and policies.

 

In addition, fervent prayer – for our own decision-making and for the outcomes in the coming election – is crucial. We have no greater encouragement for this than in 2 Chronicles 7:14, which declares, “if My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

 

Praying, humbly seeking God, and turning from our own sins. It says if we do these things, then God will hear, forgive, and bringing healing to our land.

 

I also believe it’s vital that we trust in God’s sovereignty – that He’s ultimately in control and not caught off guard or surprised by anything we do, right or wrong. His plans and purposes will prevail. Job concluded near the end of his painful ordeal, “I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

 

The book of Proverbs affirms this numerous times. Here are just two examples: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).

 

So, after studying the Scriptures, praying and humbly seeking the Lord, we should “be anxious for nothing,” as Philippians 4:6 admonishes. This isn’t always easy, but even when things are not going as I think they should, I sense God is saying, “Not to worry. I’ve got this.”