READ: PSALM 102:24-27; JOHN 10:10-18, 27-30; REVELATION 1:4-7
In the United States, a presidential election comes every four years. Whether we love and support the president who is in office or we’re ready to see their term come to an end, we have to deal with the uncertainty that comes with another election on a regular basis. It seems like a president barely has time to settle in for their first term before they have to start campaigning for their second. While they have an important job, it’s not one that lasts.
Recently, I was reading about how God is eternal, and it made me realize how different He is from what we’re used to. No matter what country we live in, our leaders don’t stay in control forever; they’re constantly changing. Even if a nation has no laws in place requiring power to regularly pass from an old leader to a new one, people in positions of authority still leave—they age, they pass away, they choose to retire, or they do things that make them lose the respect of the public. They don’t last.
Though we live in a changing world, we serve a God who is eternal. He has always been in control, and He always will be in control. And that’s good news, because He is a good leader. He loves us so much that, through Jesus, He died and rose again to make the way for us to be with Him forever. No other leader has ever done that for their people. Jesus is the good shepherd and the true king. And we don’t have to worry about His time as leader ending, so we don’t have to worry about adjusting to following someone new. We can rest, knowing that He who was God when we were born will still be God when we pass away.
How great it is to have a permanent, perfect leader we can always trust to be there and be the same. Day after day, God is there for us. He loves us, and He never changes. Knowing that brings me peace. • Emily Acker
• Can you think of a time leadership changes made you feel anxious or unsteady? We all feel like that sometimes. Thankfully, as Christians, we can look to Jesus and remember that we get to submit to His perfect leadership first and foremost. He cares for us, and He wants us to bring all our worries and needs to Him. Consider spending some time in prayer, bringing any fears or frustrations about earthly leaders to Jesus and thanking Him for His perfect, loving, steady leadership.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)
