OPINION:
Back out in the country, oftentimes our garden plots or fields were not symmetrical. As we were plowing furrows for planting various crops the last few rows would get shorter and shorter in order to fit as many plants in the given space as possible. As the plowing was coming to a completion, someone often could be heard saying, “Now we’re in the short rows,” to signify that the work in that particular field was coming to an end.
With the supposed end of the 2024 election cycle in sight, it would not be incorrect to say that hopefully “we are in the short rows” of this political period as well. At least, we all should hope and pray that come Wednesday, November 6, the election is a “fait accompli.”
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Should that be the case we thankfully would at least have a respite from the infernal falderal of irritating non-sensical political ads that keep appearing “ad nauseam” (pun intended) in, and on, everything that has anything to do with a medium of communication. In fact, this season has been so bad that I am beginning to wonder if the plague of frogs unleashed by Moses on Egypt to promote the freedom of the Israelites may actually have been political ads dressed as amphibians in disguise. I honestly do not know how millions of frogs could be any more disconcerting than the barrage of irritation emanating from the pens and microphones of campaign gurus these past few days and weeks.
But what if November 6 does not bring an end to the selection of our next president? What if, as some pundits have predicted, we are still as uncertain after the election as we were before as to who will be the next leader of the free world?
To be frank, if that be the case, then the very framework of this representative democracy we call America will be in great peril. There are those from both sides of the political spectrum who should be voices of calm and who are now predicting significant turmoil in the streets regardless of who might end up being the highest vote-getter. Surely, the seeds of unrest and even violence are in the soil and could sprout under any number of unfortunate circumstances.
SEE ALSO: 5 prayers to save America as Election Day closes in
To say the least, the battle lines have been marked in the sand and there is extraordinarily little middle ground left in our nation. Given the opportunity for violence to rear its ugly head, is it any wonder that so many of our citizenry are on edge, if not fearful? So much so that many of us are simply left to wonder what in the world we should be doing under the circumstances in which we find ourselves.
I certainly do not hold myself out to be an authority on elections much less the fallout from them. However, I have been around for a while and have observed the ebb and flow of politics for many years. With that in mind, here are a few thoughts about what good people, and especially Christ followers, should be about in the next few days and weeks as this panorama unfolds before us.
First, pray
First, and most importantly, we should be prayerful people. We need to lift up our nation before God in repentance seeking His mercy and His providence. Our hearts need to appeal to the Most High for the outcome of the election but also for the fair conduct of the voting process.
Regardless of who you may support, intercede on behalf of the leaders of our country of both parties, win or lose. Pray that they would be protected physically and that they would seek the wisdom of God as they make decisions regarding the business of governing or changing the hands of the government. At a minimum there will be a muddled time for governance in the United States from November 6 through inauguration day on January 6, and that in, and of itself, will be a period highly subject to vulnerability from without and within.
We should remember to fervently seek the peace of America in the aftermath of the vote count and that any terrorist-type activity arising from any source would not prevail. For if vitriol rules the day, then our nation may well implode from within. While we are on our knees, let us always remember to pray for our military, our law enforcement officers, our firemen and our first responders. These are the ones on the frontline of any upheaval who will be heading directly toward the fray.
SEE ALSO: 6 prayers for the 2024 presidential election
Second, demand accountability
Second, though we should eschew unnecessary violence, while we are praying, we as a people should demand accountability from those who would govern us and from the election officials in the various states as well. For the sake of America, it is imperative that our coming elections are not only fair, but that they also appear to be fair. This is not a “one or the other” scenario. The very future of our democracy depends on both realities on November 5. Every legal means within the framework of our U.S. Constitution should be utilized to ensure that our system of elections is both fair and transparent.
Last, remember Jesus is in charge
Finally, while these days are fraught with the possibility of unrest and violence, we should never forget Who ultimately is in charge. Jesus Christ will not have to check with Fox News, CNN or any of the major news networks or newspapers on November 6 to find out who was the top vote-getter on November 5.
While it may be that our nation is more divided now than at any time since 1861, there is always unity to be found at the foot of the Cross. It was Abraham Lincoln who once proclaimed during the throes of that great civil war: “My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.” And indeed, He is! So, just maybe it is time for all of us in America to repent of our wrongful ways and turn to the truth of the Gospel. After all is said and done, that is the only truth that matters.
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After a successful career as a lawyer and judge, Judge Phil Ginn retired as the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for the 24th Judicial District in North Carolina. Throughout his 22-year judicial career, he had the privilege of holding court in almost 50% of the county seats in North Carolina. Currently, Judge Ginn serves as the president of Southern Evangelical Seminary (ses.edu) and is a regular contributor to Christianity.com and The Washington Times. Judge Ginn has also been featured on Fox News, CBN, Newsmax, Decision Magazine, The Christian Post, Townhall and many others.
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