I remember it well. Every three years, my curiosity would begin to peak regarding who could be running for President of the United States the following year. I scanned the horizon of possible candidates, listened to all the talking heads & prognosticators on twenty-four hour cable news channels, and examined the voting records of potential candidates. After all this work was done, I would make an educated endorsement for president. The process was quite entertaining, yet emotionally taxing at the same time.
When I picked the candidate of my choice, I would be sure to pray that my candidate would be grated wisdom, favor, and success. I would pray that this candidate would be given insight into how to return the United States to its position of moral, economic, and military greatness. If my candidate would happen to be elected, my initial elation would eventually turn to disappointment a few years later when the candidate of my choice was not able to, or did not ‘turn things around’, so to speak.
If my candidate of choice lost the election, however, I began to notice everything falling apart at the seams shortly after the inauguration of the new president. I would also find a way to blame most of the country’s problems on the president, while at the same time reminding everyone that I did not vote for him. I began to think about how he could be replaced in the next presidential election four years later: and thus, the cycle would continue.
With that said, I am told that 2012 is another presidential election year in the United States. To be completely honest, I haven’t thought much about it. No, I haven’t suddenly turned against voting or getting involved in the electoral process, my lack of interest is due to the fact that I have moved to a new country. There are no elections in my new country. The ‘president’ of my new country is always the ‘president’, and He is never up for re-election.
I have been amazed at the ability of the president (of the new nation I moved to) to accomplish His agenda. Unlike the president of the United States, He doesn’t have to rely upon or compete with any other branches of government. He needs no ‘checks & balances’ as the entire government is literally upon His shoulders. As a result, I wholeheartedly endorse Him for president.
To all my friends back in the United States, I would like to invite you to move with me to my new nation where election cycles, perpetual campaigns, and spinning politicians are a thing of the past. I made the move for good reason. I wrote about this move, and why I made this move, in a previous article. Please take some time to read or re-visit this article. You will be wiser for it, plus it could save you a lot of time and heartache. Here is the link:
Why I Decided To Move To A New Nation
For the new nation,
Jamal Jivanjee
Jamal I have enjoyed reading your posts on moving to a new nation and the president. In my line of work selling health insurance it is very uncertain what our business will look like in the near future. In 2014 the new health law will go into full effect and we are uncertain how that will affect mine and my families income. I had already made peace with Father that He has it already worked out. Worry will not help my situation. Imagine that! Your articles have been good confirmation for me and have helped me keep my eyes on Christ. I look forward to what Christ will do and the great opportunities to show His glory as a citizen of His nation. I appreciate you insight and encouragement.
Thanks for reading the article Anthony. I’m glad that it was an encouragement to you:)
Thanks Jamal!
I reread your article on moving to a new nation. Near the end you stated “You can always tell what country a person lives in because they are preoccupied with and continually discuss the affairs of that country.” That comment defines where I have been for a very long time. Ever since Christ revealed Himself to me I have been preoccupied with Him.
“Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,” (NASB)
Whether a person realizes it or not, as a believer, we no longer belong to the world. The sooner that reality is realized, the sooner we can begin moving forward.
Frank,
Well said! You are absolutely right. The sooner we realize that we, as those who are in Christ, no longer belong to this world, the sooner we can move forward!
Thank you for sharing that comment!
Jamal,
not sure if you remember, but my career a few years ago before taking up the glorious life of a SAHM was that HEAVILY involved with politics. I considered myself very “in the know” in regards to political ideals. But as Jesus grew larger within my heart my “knowledge” of these things started to have a bitter taste…then eventually became a rotten, rancid and totally disgusting endeavour. When Jesus delivered me from that life I felt true freedom and needed no man, political or otherwise to “fight” for my “right.” My freedom was and is Christ. Praise God for His unwaivering vote, his commitment to the people
Bri,
Wow, what a powerful comment! This statement in your comment really jumped out at me:
“But as Jesus grew larger within my heart my “knowledge” of these things started to have a bitter taste”
What a powerful testimony of how Christ ruins us for the lesser things and systems of this world. Thank you for sharing!
Greetings Fellow Citizen! So glad I’ve joined you in this new nation! Perfect and timely analogy that causes many to think, many to question and even more to misunderstand. While we are in this world we are no longer of this world – strangers and aliens, as it were. We don’t need the benefits and security that this world offers as the economy of this world is highly unstable. “Back home”, in OUR nation the economy has never been stronger and the benefits are literally out of this world! Once again – thanks for the reminder!
Well said Mark! I’m also glad that we are fellow citizens of this New Nation together. Blessings to you brother:)
Thought-provoking and heart-provoking post, Jamal. I understand what you’re saying, and definitely know that the body of Christ is far too involved as part “of the world.” But I have to wonder about something. If we are the body of Christ, with Christ as the Head (and I know He is and we are), when the Bible says “the government shall be upon His shoulders” we need to remember that shoulders are part of the body. Thus, He reigns through His body, amazing as that is.
Further, in Luke 19:13, Jesus makes clear that we are to “occupy” till He returns. Doesn’t that indicate we are to have an active part in the world, even in the affairs of government, even though we understand we are strangers here in exile?
Kay,
Thx for reading and for your comment. You have asked a great question that I have wrestled with a lot. There are a couple of points that I would like to make.
1. The kingdom of God (God’s reign) is manifested in the person of Christ. He is the kingdom of God personified. You are absolutely right that we (His Body) are the shoulders of Him whom the government rests on.
2. This kingdom is INTERNAL before it is EXTERNAL for a specific reason. Jesus told Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world. His kingdom is entirely different and is not compatible with man’s kingdom and systems. When God’s kingdom comes (and He has), this kingdom resides internally in the spirit of His saints first. Eventually, at the proper time of God’s choosing, this kingdom will REPLACE man’s kingdom and systems with an external kingdom and reign of God that corresponds and expresses the spiritual kingdom that already reigns within us. God is not trying to ‘reform’ or ‘perfect’ man’s systems and governments. He is going to destroy and judge man’s kingdoms and systems…including his religious systems. The common theme in the scriptures for God’s people is not to reform and occupy man’s corrupt systems, but to leave them. An ‘exodus’, so to speak.
Because much of the church does not understand this, they have been led astray into laboring to reform and operate in what God does not intend to reform, but destroy. It is a huge distraction away from the person of Jesus Christ.
I hope that makes sense Kay. Blessings to you.
I do understand what you are saying, Jamal, but I see Jesus interacting with the people of the world throughout His ministry here. He did not withdraw from the people, and even followed the laws of the day. He brought Light into the darkness and many saw and received. Likewise, that is what we are to do as long as we are on this earth – whether it is in government, business, education, etc.
Kay,
Absolutely. Jesus interacts with people everywhere. There is a difference between people and systems, however. Jesus did not come to redeem or reform mankind’s kingdoms and systems, but to replace them. In the gospels, we can see that Jesus was not preoccupied with reforming mankind’s system, He simply interacted with people of all kinds from government and religious leaders, to prostitutes and tax collectors. He awakened them to an entirely new reality and kingdom altogether.
I believe that every gov’t of man will end up being a lesson in man’s futility to govern himself, and is all part of our Lord’s lesson in this life/age to provoke faith for the now (partially manifested) and future (fully manifested) rule of our King.
I’m very thankful that “the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord, and He steers it like watercourse, where ever He chooses”.
Kings/presidents/governments/countries are the Lord’s pawns in His great game of chess, and it matters little which man/woman gets the title.
All hail King Jesus!
Trevor,
As always, right on the money! I shared this comment with someone else just yesterday. It was quite helpful! Thanks for sharing this here.
I love your posts brother and just as much the conversations sparked with others…when I read Kay’s comments regarding the government shall be on his shoulders I thought of a scale and how the shoulders almost look like a scale…I just love how His Spirit moves through His people and I thank God for you and your heart In Christ.
Thx Leana! I appreciate your heart as well:)
Jamal,
It seems that those who fixate on the government power of this world and the policies put forth are taken aback by your words here. I am speaking of those who are into the politics of this world to the point of fixation. Why would your words create such a stir in them? Why do some find your words offensive to their goals, if according to their goals they are attempting to put Christ into the government and it’s policies? It is the very thing they say they are attempting to do, yet this activity has never brought forth a government that is not corrupted, that is not of this world, that is not of the fallen human nature. What you write here is the very thing they are attempting to do via political human power, via the world system. It is finished. I fail to see the confusion on this matter, and I think it must be mere human reasoning that promotes the reformation of a world government system for Christ. Is not all this political striving about putting Christ into the governmental offices and policies of this world? The world system is a dead thing, there is no Life in it because Christ is not part of the world’s system. Christ is the Supremacy, always Was, Is and Will Be.
Jamal, Did not Christ instruct his disciples to pray “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? I would suggest that what is missing from modern American Christianity is this hunger and thirst for righteousness.