The Most Important Election

By Pastor Peter Adelsen
First Ev. Lutheran Church, Glencoe

McLeod County Chronicle's Pastor's Corner 

“This election is the most important of our lifetime!” We hear this same phrase every four years. But is this true?

If we put all our stock on the things of this world, then yes. But, if we put our stock on the things of life eternal, then no. You see, if we put all our focus on temporal politics, instead of eternal politics, we will never be satisfied. Each earthly politician makes promises and due to their sinful nature inherited from our first parents Adam and Eve, they will break promises. It is extremely rare that a politician will keep all his or her promises.

Everything in life is political. We can focus on the temporal politics of “R” or “D,” or we can focus on the eternal politic that is “Jesus is Lord.” Now, do not be mistaken, for there is an election that is the most important in our lifetime, but it is not temporal politics.

The most important election of our lifetime was when God the Father elected you and made you His own at your Baptism. This is the election that matters most.

You see, through Baptism, the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) made a promise, and His promises are never broken. This promise is that He will never leave you, nor forsake your Baptismal seal as His own. The most important election is when we were chosen by God as His own (1 Thessalonians 1:4). So, through the water and the Word, we are united to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In doing so, since Christ was raised from the dead, we too, by faith in Christ, which began at our Baptism through the Holy Spirit, will also be bodily raised on the Last Day. From this Baptismal promise, the Holy Spirit teaches us as we grow in the one true faith as we love God and love our neighbor.

Now, Baptism is not a “get into heaven free card,” since as a Baptized child of God we can choose to deny our faith in Christ and follow another false god. But, at the same time, God never forsakes His promise, so that when the Holy Spirit brings the unbeliever to faith again in Christ, this person is guaranteed of the Baptismal promise.

So, trust in your Baptismal promise, for this is in fact the most important election of your lifetime!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will” (Ephesians 1:3-5).

Merciful Father, though we do not deserve it, You have called us to be Your own through Holy Baptism. Preserve us in Your righteousness as we by faith in Your Son Jesus Christ inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life. Amen.