“Since God elected you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12

We just had an election in the U.S. The Bible talks about a different kind of election. Biblically speaking the concept of election is freighted with implications for those of us who follow Jesus. Simply put, by God’s grace alone you’ve been elected, but the results of this election, that is the work of living faith, is the lifetime call ahead of you. As opposed to a presidential election, the stakes for this election could not be higher, as this is literally the election of your life, the one life you have been given to bring glory to God, and goodness into the world that he loves. Should the results of your election, for example, get swallowed up in “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language”, then the body of Christ in our world would, once more, be maimed beyond recognition. Or if we who bear the name Christian were to get caught up in “sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry)” then the name of Christ, once more in our day, would be taken in vain.

Here is the important reality for us today: the election results of this new-life in Christ are still waiting to be chosen by us. Therefore it seems timely at this particular moment to reflect on what it is that we are really hoping for when it comes to the results of this election. In order to facilitate a time of reflection I invite you to take a deep breath, slow down your skim reading, and meditate on one of the more important sections of new testament scripture related to the topic of election: Colossians chapter 3  (with a few added paraphrasings from me).

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolator, worshiping the things of this world. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and abusive language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you lean Republican or Democrat,  conservative or liberal,  if you run with woke urban socialites, or traditional rural family value types, whether you are a recent or distant past immigrant or a native American. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Since God elected you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive  anyone who offends you. Remember, the lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves in love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony, And let the peace that comes from Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

-Colossians 3:1-17