A New Era

Yesterday, in the United States, we inaugurated our 46th president. Many of you probably have strong feelings about this new administration.

Some of you are probably concerned or worried about our country’s future. While others of you are excited about the new administration and its policy agenda.

Regardless of where you stand, a presidential inauguration is a time when we as a country signal the beginning of a new era and the end of another.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:16-17,

“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

In his second letter to the Corinthian Christians, Paul is recounting his own story. As well as that of his ministry partners.

He acknowledges that he used to see the world, and even Jesus, from a worldly perspective. A perspective of rebellion, turmoil, and self-righteousness.

But not anymore.

He remembers his own transformation on the Damascus Road. He once sought to kill Christians. And by the time of this letter, he was one of the most well-known and respected Christian leaders in the world.

Truly, Christ made a difference in his life and his perspective.

As we begin this new era of United States history, we all want peace. We all want unity. The problem is we are divided on so many issues.

How can we possibly be united?

Simple. Jesus.

Jesus unites everyone. The Greek and the Jew. The man and the woman. The free and the slave. The rich and the poor.

He should unite the Republican and the Democrat.

While we all certainly have our own opinions and perspectives on lots of things going on right now, I think we need more Jesus and less Biden and less Trump.

Too many people are making or breaking their earthly future on one of these two men, and frankly as Christians we ought to be ashamed of ourselves.

Donald Trump won’t bring unity. And neither will Joe Biden. Only Jesus will.

No matter where you stand politically, only Jesus can make you new. Only He can restore peace. Only He can save you. Only He can fill you with love and compassion and truth.

Yesterday marked the transition of power and leadership in the United States, and who knows what it will bring (for good or for ill).

But let today be the day you let Jesus take control of your life. Getting rid of the old. And bringing the new. In you!

What a day that will be!

Anyway, I was just thinking…