Therefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and, having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
Choosing Joy in a “Dark Winter”
I saw Joe Biden in person, once. This is a very small anecdote, but it always stayed with me. I was in a hotel lobby in Washington on a rainy day. Biden came in with his entourage. As some of them attempted to help him off with his coat, he angrily pulled away and said something unpleasant to them. He then went upstairs.
Anybody can have a bad day. All of us are harried from time to time. But something tells me that Ol’ “Lunch Bucket Joe” is like this all the time. I have watched his political career for decades and believe him to be a typical craven grifter.
Now that we are days on the other side of a bizarre election night, let me be clear about what I think happened.
The Left stole the election. At the time of this writing, some hold out hope that court challenges will lift Trump to victory, but there are also reports that Jared Kushner has approached the President about conceding. I also just read that Bibi Netanyahu sent congratulatory comments to Biden.
Sickening.
Somehow, I did not see this coup coming. I thought that even though there is always voter fraud, we had a system in place that would not allow us to become a Third World country.
I was wrong, wrong, wrong.
A friend of mine predicted this—he really did—but I was mostly dismissive. I now see very clearly that America as we have always loved her is gone. Some friends Friday night said they held out hope that the Republicans can retake the House in two years and someone like Tom Cotton can become president in 2024.
Sometimes we lie to ourselves, in order to cope.
I intended to make this column more about what Israel can expect under Biden, but I’d like to offer you hope about the future. I will not be part of Biden’s Dark Winter.
(Forever, I will consider him illegitimate. His friends on the Left, the legions of them, include prominent evangelicals.)
Now to the good stuff!
I thought of Terry James this week. Terry’s harrowing tale of his heart attack always inspired me, as it did many others. One reason is, he survived the “Widow Maker,” but retained his joy of life. His assurance that we will all see Jesus soon—I love it.
That is the reality, no matter our circumstances.
I was almost killed in an accident four years ago, and while I know many of you know that, you don’t know the circumstances. I am not going to write about that today, maybe one day, but I wanted to make the point that my survival in 2016 was literally miraculous. The accident came out of nowhere (we never know the details of our Home Going ahead of time!).
Yet this week, even in the midst of this mind-blowing coup in our country, I visited with friends and had a great time around a fire. I visited with my amazing niece, who is a great girl and looking to a bright future. I visit with my mother every day; she lives on the “Farm” with us, our little patch of ground. She is in great health and mentally sharp and fun, at 78.
I have so many blessings in my life, I can’t count them all. I have a quiet place, a bench, overlooking a valley. I sit there every day and talk to God and think about life. I am building my dream home near there.
None of this would be happening if God had not spared my life. So, no matter what life throws at me, I am winning.
And you know what? I know that because God’s Word is true, my new home will be enjoyed but for a few years. Then I go to the place He has prepared for me.
Joe Biden is not my president. But Donald Trump is also not my Savior. I will pray for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris—if they do in fact take office through nefarious means—that they come to know the Lord and stop practicing evil daily, hourly.
Donald Trump is the greatest president of my lifetime. There will be pressure on many of us to go along in the days ahead. I can assure you, I will not roll over politically. I could write many, many thoughts (couldn’t we all!) about the treachery in this country. But that for another time.
I can choose every day to focus on the life Jesus has given me, and the one He is preparing for me. If we don’t live in Mayberry anymore and we have to run a gauntlet of hate, others that have come before have had worse to deal with.
I think of Washington’s desperate gamble to cross the Delaware at Trenton. Can you imagine how depressed he must have been during that Christmas night, knowing that the Revolution hung by a thread?
I think of our guys at Bataan and Corregidor. Knowing there were no replacements coming to defend against the Japs?
Or missionaries in countries where that kind of thing gets you killed? Can you imagine being a missionary in Asia in the early 20th century, and seeing your entire family murdered in front of your eyes?
I can’t, either.
Those who remain steadfast and keep their eyes on the Savior will emerge from this just fine. I will soon be 58; I hope I live many more years. But if not, I’ve had a magnificent life. And the one I’m going to, according to Paul, I couldn’t handle the glory of it if God didn’t give me a new body!
I spit in the face of the Enemy, in the face of totalitarianism. I’m going to get a t-shirt that reads: “It was a Coup.” And I give Bibi a pass, since I still believe his sole goal in life is to defend his people. He’s known Biden for 40 years and knows WHAT Biden is. He’s making a political calculation.
But apart from politics, I choose joy. Life is good. It is a gift from God. Let me encourage you going forward to get into and stay in God’s Word.
To quote another Netanyahu, Jonathan, who led the spectacular Raid at Entebbe:
“It’ll be okay.”