Cast Your Vote Today

Romans 10:13, "For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"

Today is election day in America. In South Carolina we'll be electing a new governor, along with deciding who will represent us in the Senate, House of Representatives and numerous state and local offices. It is a day all Americans should cherish as it is our opportunity to exercise our freedom of choice as to who will govern our land.

We'll make choices between Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, moderates and third parties. We'll place our trust in the hands of men and women we really don't know anything about to lead our nation, state and local areas how we feel they should be led.

Some will vote against incumbents as they do not approve of the direction things are going. Many will vote their pocketbooks as financially they are worse off than they were during the last election cycle. Some will vote a straight ticket giving no thought to the individual they are voting for. Most will choose not to vote at all as they are disengaged or simply fed up with politics as a whole.

But today I urge you to consider casting a vote of a different kind. The bible speaks of an election, and it's the most important vote of your life. Today many will cast a vote for the person they believe can best meet their needs. Biblical election is sort of the same.

Nearly 2000 years ago God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, came to earth to fulfil our greatest need: the need of a Savior to forgive us of our sins. You see all of us have sinned, and are in need of forgiveness. Don't believe me, well take this short test.

1) Have you ever lied? What does that make you? A liar.
2) Have you ever stolen anything? What does that make you? A thief.
3) Have you ever looked upon a man or woman in lust? Well, Jesus said that whoever looks upon another in lust has committed adultery in their heart, so what does that make you? An adulterer.

These are just 3 of the 10 commandments. If you were to stand before God today, would you be found guilty or innocent? If He had to judge you today, would you go to heaven or hell? Understand this, God must judge, as He is just and has promised He will do so. None of us will avoid this judgment. So how do you avoid the sentence of guilt that we all rightly deserve?

Well the bible tells us we have an "advocate." That can literally be interpreted as a defense attorney. His name is Jesus, and if we will choose Him, realizing that He alone can forgive us of our sins and "cleanse us from all unrighteousness," we can avoid an eternal guilty verdict. He was sent to us for that specific purpose, as "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." He wants us to choose Him and Him alone, from our hearts, and to follow Him in obedience and faithfulness. He wants us to look to His word, the bible, as our guidance, and accept it as absolute truth. He wants you, to vote for Him with all of your heart.

So as we go to the polls today, I'll ask you, have you first been to the cross? The vote you cast today will be limited by time, but the choice you make for Jesus will insure an eternity with God. Will you join the elect, and ask Jesus to be your Savior?