WHO
WILL YOU VOTE?
The political activity
in Nigeria today is not news anymore to Nigerians and to those outside the
boundaries of Nigeria. The talk of the town is obviously the election day. We
have heard so many campaign speeches from political gladiators. We have heard
so much promises and plans to be accomplished by political contenders if given
the opportunity to be elected into power. The expectation of this year’s
election in Nigeria is very high. But the question is that; who will be the winner?
The question
above which says, who will be the winner? is far viewed beyond the political perspective
of Nigeria’s election. It is worthy to note that as humans we elect
who guides and reigns over us on daily basis, as a result, makes election an
indispensable matter as we journey to eternity. As good as it is to partake in this forthcoming election, it is also important
to make a deliberate effort to make a vote of who will lead your life all the
way till Jesus Christ comes back. As good as it is to vote the person God is
impressing in your heart during this forthcoming election, it is also important
to cast your vote for or against who will reign over you till Jesus returns
back. The election I am driving at outweighs political election. The
election is between JESUS and SATAN, and the result of this election has
eternal consequences.
To be more
direct on what I am driving at, let me cast our minds back to what happened over
2000 years ago in Jerusalem where it was incumbent on the Roman governor to
release a prisoner chosen by the crowd at every Passover Festival. On that
fateful day, the Pilate took a vote for those who are in favour of Jesus Christ
and those who are in favour of Barabbas when he asked the crowd this question, “…which
one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
(Matt. 27:16b). Could you pause at this point and ask yourself this
question; if it were me, what will be my response to the question raised by
Pilate? Before going further to look at the response of the crowd to this
question, it is important for us to have a clear picture of these two (2) personalities;
Jesus and Barabbas. For Barabbas, he was a well known prisoner at that time. He
was a notorious prisoner, who happened to have been convicted of murder. For Jesus,
He is the savior of the world, who went around doing good, preaching the gospel,
and healing the sick. Ordinarily, from these two persons, one will vote for
Jesus. But to my greatest dismay, the crowd choosed Barabbas over Jesus even
when Pilate tried all he could to make them understand that Jesus is innocent. For
Pilate to really confirm the choice of the crowd, he further “…asked
the crowd, “Which one of these two do you want me to set free for you?”
“Barabbas!” they answered.” (Matt. 27:21). To have a clear understanding of what Pilate further
asked and how the crowd finally casted their vote on that day, the bible says, “What, then, shall I do with
Jesus called the Messiah?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they all answered.
But Pilate asked, “What crime has he committed?” Then they started shouting at
the top of their voices: “Crucify him!” When Pilate saw that it was no use to
go on, but that a riot might break out, he took some water, washed his hands in
front of the crowd, and said, “I am not responsible for the death of this man!
This is your doing!” The whole crowd answered, “Let the responsibility for his
death fall on us and on our children!” Then Pilate set Barabbas
free for them; and after he had Jesus whipped, he handed him over to be
crucified.” (Matt.
27: 22-26)
What baffles me was there shout “Let Him (Jesus) be crucified” and
insist that Barabbas be set free. Ooooh! what a vote. The way the gospel of
Mark puts this kind of vote when Jesus was brought before the high priests and
whole council clearly shows that the question of who will you vote? is a personal decision to make. The bible says, “The
High priest tore his robes and said, “we don’t need any more witnessed! You
heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” they all voted
against him, he was guilty and should be put to death.” (Mark 14:64). The
same opportunity given to the crowd then to choose between Jesus and Barabbas
is the same opportunity given to us every day we have the privilege to live to
vote who should guide us. The question to unearth as one is granted opportunity
to live is this; have I voted Jesus into my life as to permanently remain my
candidate till he returns or have I voted other things to reign over my life?
This question calls for you to personally answer.
The
scenario given above also depicts the state of our world today. The
privilege given to a man to live, avail with it the need for that man to choose
between Jesus and the devil. The truth is that if you are not for Jesus,
you are against him. There is no lukewarmness in this matter. No wonder Rev.
3:16 settles this matter when it says, “I know all the things you do,
that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!” This election I am driving at is beyond been
neutral in your vote. It is not a matter of standing on the fence. It has to be
a clear cut vote for Jesus or against Jesus. For neutrality, Governor Pilate
tried it, but he didn’t succeed. You can
either receive Jesus or reject Jesus; there is no two ways about it. Beloved, it is critical to note that
critical matters are not treated less critically. Therefore, don’t take the
counsel of voting Jesus as your Lord and personal savior lightly. This election
between Jesus and the devil is actually between life and death. “Today
I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and
curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that
you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (Deut.
30:19). Choosing life simply means that you have voted
Jesus (Son of God) into your life. This was made much clearer when the bible
says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not
have life. I have written in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know
you have eternal life.” (I John 5:12). Do you sincerely have Jesus
living in your life at the moment? If no, today avail an opportunity for you to
do so.
In a more
practical perspective, I must admit to you this truth that on daily basis,
people wrongly or wisely vote. In our present world, we can see how people are choosing
pleasure,
position, fame, money, and many other things that have no heavenly benefit, at
the expense of accepting Jesus into their lives. This is but a foolish vote
against Jesus. Nowadays, there is no much talk of God
anymore. People call the name of the devil even more than the name of Jesus.
The messages that go on in our Churches simply shows much emphasis of how
people must make it in life at the expense of preaching Christ and Him
crucified. People are running helter skelter labouring for the food that
perishes, but despising Jesus who is actually the bread of life. There is no
consciousness of eternity in people’s heart any longer. All these suggest the
fact that people are voting against Jesus Christ. It is very pertinent to note that everyman will
end up in any of these two (2) destinations; heaven or hell. The person you
choose to follow today while on earth will determine who you will end up with
tomorrow. Those who vote Jesus consciously into their life will
certainly end up with him tomorrow. But those who vote for the devil
consciously or unconsciously to control their thought, choice and action will
end up with him tomorrow. The best thing is to meet up with the entry
requirement into heaven; which is by consciously deciding to be born again. There
is only one way to heaven; it is by voting Jesus into your life today. There is
no any other name under heaven give among men by which we must be saved. Jesus
told Thomas back then that “…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Don’t look
for Jesus wrongly for such wrongly search for Jesus will never grant you access
to the Father.
God
has never forced a man to vote him. Political leaders might campaign rigorously
in order to give you good reasons to vote for them; but for Jesus, He only
spells out the implication of you not following him. Everybody is a follower of
something. What have you been following till now? For you to matter in the
sight of politicians, you need to get closer to them; invariably, for you to
matter in the sight of God, and in time and eternity, you need to vote Jesus
into your life and get closer to him. The vote as earlier stated is
between Jesus and Satan which determines life and death. The ballot box is set
before you today; who will you vote? In your day to day activities, you can
either be voting for Jesus or against Jesus. There will be a day of
accountability, what account will you render to God on the last day of the life
you lived here on earth? As good as it
is to vote in the forthcoming presidential, senatorial, and governorship election
in Nigeria, it is much more important to vote for Jesus and make Him your
permanent candidate such that in tough and persecuted times, you will hold on
to Him till he comes back. It does not matter the sin that has separated you
from voting Jesus before now, the call of heaven is that “..the blood of Jesus, his Son,
cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7) and He is offering us an invitation
in Isaiah
1:18 which says, “Come now, let us reason together, says the
LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” This important choice
of voting Jesus into your life does not warrant any accreditation of “PVC” before
you elect. It does not mean that if you don’t have PVC you cannot vote. It does
not necessitate you queuing on the line for hours before you vote. It
may surprise you also that this decision of been born again does not come by
pronouncement or declaration made unto you through any medium; television or
radio. It is for you to personally decide by confessing your sins and forsaking
them, and thereafter following Jesus in His step. Joshua understood the
necessity of this voting when he said, “…choose this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the
gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we
will serve the Lord.”(Joshua
24:15). As for you dear reader, who will you vote; Jesus or other
things?
It is worthy to
note that making Jesus your candidate permanently until he returns has with it
a reward that cannot be compared with any reward that is accruable to you when
you vote for, campaign for, argue for, and/or even died for any political
candidate. Political leaders might come out smiling and making promises to you
to vote for them with their personal interest in view, but Jesus will never
call you into this new life to make airy nothing of you, instead, He calls you to
help you. Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Gal.
6:7). Follow Jesus today and you will be on your way to life. A man
back then wanted to follow Jesus, but has the intention to settle other things he
consider important, Jesus responded by spelling out the need for him to seize
that day. The bible says, “Then another said, “I’m ready to follow
you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.”
Jesus said, No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom
off till tomorrow. Seize the day” (Luke 9:62). Your choice/vote today
has eternal consequences because it will actually matter in time and eternity. Voting for your right choice in this
forthcoming election in Nigeria may not have eternal consequences on your
person, but voting for or against Jesus has eternal consequences on you. Vote
wisely by accepting Jesus into your life today to secure a better place in
eternity. Who will you allow to win over your life today; Jesus Christ or
the devil? May God bless us all, amen.
“God loves you the way you are, but He refuses to
leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus” (Max Lucado)
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