A Word of Caution to My MAGA Friends
It was an early morning prayer meeting, just one day after the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as America’s 47 President. Most of those gathered were celebrating Trump’s remarkable political comeback and the numerous changes he signaled at his inauguration.
However, the meeting took an unexpected turn as we prayed. The Lord spoke a stern word of caution to me: Don’t spike the football before the goal line!
I immediately recalled the embarrassing times when jubilant football players spiked the ball before they had successfully entered the end zone. They celebrated too soon, before achieving their anticipated touchdown.
So, what is the “goal line” for the church? Certainly not winning an election, even if our preferred candidate has won. The ultimate goal line entails a quite daunting vision: “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the water covers the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14).
When we settle for a lesser vision, we cheapen the gospel and lose sight of God’s commission for His people. We also end up resting on our laurels, as if our job is already completed.
The apostle Paul could have been tempted to “spike the football” because of his impressive accomplishments. Instead, he spoke of his ongoing quest to “press on” toward God’s upward call:
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).
Friend, I hope you are experiencing some great victories in your life (2 Corinthians 2:14). However, let’s avoid the tendency to gloat about our blessings and successes, whether on social media or otherwise.
Those who drop the football short of the goal line will soon experience this troubling truth: “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
The sobering fact is this: The Lord will actively resist anyone—Democrat, Republican, or Independent—who arrogantly forgets their dependence on Him. “IF My people will HUMBLE themselves…” is the only way to truly cross the goal line (2 Chronicles 7:14).
