Was Satan the First "Dirty Politician?"
Not long ago, a young man asked me, “How can you be in politics? Politics is dirty.”
My immediate response was, “It’s only ‘dirty’ if we elect people who are willing to get dirty."
The meaning of the word politician is: “the activities of the government, members of law-making organizations, or people who try to influence the way a country is governed.”
According to that definition, it looks like Satan was the very first “dirty politician." He knew what was a stake. He knew what God had commanded Adam and Eve. He fully understood that the course of the world that had been put in place by the Creator, Himself.
He also knew that one decision by Eve could change a world of ease, purity and goodness into a world of sin. And he made his "stump speech" to Eve.
Satan was cunning. He obviously appeared trustworthy and likeable. He offered Eve what all politicians do, an opportunity for "something better."
From the time that God created us, He gave us free will. And throughout the ages, it is our choices that have made us a better world, or a more sinister, evil one. Knowing that, there have always been and always will be people who try to influence the way a country is governed.
Think of Moses, Esther, Mordecai, Pilate, the Pharisees, and the list could go on and on. It might not have been called politics in the Bible, but the Bible is replete with politicians. Some dirty some honorable.
At the end of the Book of Esther, we read this about Mordecai, "For Mordecai the Jew was second to king Ahasureus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen."
These closing words of the Book of Esther have often made me wonder if the Book of Esther is really the story of how God planned for Mordecai to get into a position of power for a time of peace and prosperity for God's people.
Proverbs 29:2 reminds us: "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
There will always be people who want to influence the way a country is governed. Sadly, the New Testament reminds us that it happens in the body of Christ as well. We are told that Diotrephes "loved to have preeminence" in the Lord's church. (Colossians 1:18) He wanted to be the leader and govern the affairs.
"Politicians" have come and gone throughout History. Until the end of this world, I suppose they will.
But one thing is certain. We still make choices. We are involved whether we choose to be or not. And we bear the consequences of the choices we make (or don't make). Hopefully, God through His Providence, will not let us destroy ourselves!
"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Love in Our Dear Lord,
Sheila
P.S. I am praying daily for those left in Afghanistan, for those dealing with sickness and loss of loved ones, for our leaders and their decisions and for each of us as Christians never to choose the lies of Satan! Please pray with me. There is such power in our collective prayer! 🙏 I love you dear sisters. ❤️
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