Martin Wickens

I want to share some reflections on 2 Kings 6:8-12 from our sermon yesterday morning at Bedford Bible Church.

It’s February 1885 and seven young men, having completed a farewell tour across the United Kingdom prepare for a long and arduous journey to China. Just reading the names of these men reveals something of their place in society: Montagu Harry Proctor Beauchamp, Stanley P Smith, Arthur and Cecil Polhill-Turner, Dixon Edward Hoste, William Wharton Cassels, and Charles Thomas Studd.

Born into the British aristocracy they enjoyed many privileges that wealth and connections offer. Six out of the seven attended Cambridge University. Several excelled in sports and most would be considered millionaires in today’s money.

These seven, the Cambridge Seven, all joined the China Inland Mission and gave their lives in the service of the King of kings.

These men, with all the opportunities and privileges society could offer, were used by God to accomplish His purposes in this world

Let’s jump ahead now to 1928. In a small village in the Netherlands, in the smallest home in the village, a son is born. Andy van der Bijl is the 3rd of 6 children.

When still a young man, the Nazi’s invaded his homeland and he fought with the resistance. At the age of 18 he joined a commando unit. No amount of partying or drinking would release him from the haunting memories of some of his actions during the war.

At 20-years-of-age Andy was shot in the ankle and while recovering learned the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was saved! Over the next few years he witnessed God perform may miracles in his life, but all served as preparations for the adventures to come.

On one occasion, as he approached the Romanian border he could see Communist soldiers searching each car ahead of him. His car was full of illegal Bibles. He nervoulsy waited in line and witnessed the car directly in front of him get searched so thoroughly it took an hour to complete.

He prayed and the Lord gave him a bold plan – take out few Bibles and leave them on the seat beside him. No amount of cleverness or commando tactics could help him. Only a miracle would get him through. Andy, or Brother Andrew as he became known, pulled up to the border gate, handed his papers to the guard and went to get out of the vehicle. Before he could step out the guard handed him his papers and waved him on.

Later he would find himself often praying,

“Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to your children. When you were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.”

Brother Andrew

This man, with few advantages in early life was used by God to accomplish His purposes in the world.

In 2 Kings 6:8-12, Elisha followed God’s leading to interact with human government to the end that God could accomplish His purposes in this world.

The Cambridge Seven and Brother Andrew seved God under very different circumstances, yet both were greatly used of the Lord. None were either entirely without problems or opportunities, but they certainly began with different relationships with government.

Why my hesitation to speak politically?

As we approach the US elections society once more barrels toward confrontation. The divisions, tension, and stress which permeate society can all too easily infiltrate the church. After all, churches are made up of the same individuals who make up society. We are not immune from what goes on in the world.

For many years we’ve taken “wars and rumors of wars” as a description of things overseas, now minute-by-minute it seems we hear of wars and rumors of wars in our communities.

As I prepared to preach yesterday I did so with some trepidation. The subject matter, a follower of God interacting with human government, felt like it intersected too closely for my liking with current events. I am wary of any sermon I preach ever seeming political, certainly not partisan in any way. Yet, by God’s design not mine, this was the passage I was to expound.

I will preach unapologetically on moral issues such as abortion, marriage, justice, integrity, and more. These are not political, they are a part of the eternal fabric of God’s nature.

I will speak in private on issues of liberty, economics, and things which are secondary in nature.

The pulpit is a platform for certainty and absolutes. If I am not 100% certain of something, I will avoid it. If there is any possibility of having to backtrack or apologize later, I will avoid it.

The pulpit is a place for unity around Christ. If a secondary issue will divide, I will not use my opportunity to stand behind this pulpit to promote it.

There are issues upon which all of you agree, but the means to achieving that issue you might disagree on. To you, it may seem simple, but to others, it may not.

There is one truth that every Christian can and must unite around – Jesus Christ.

Whenever I step into the pulpit I aim to to expound the truths in the Word and to make application to our day.

No Biblical truth is isolated from practical application and no Biblical record is absolved from personal interaction.

2 Kings has a bearing on us today, and it is our responsibility and privilege to consider it.

Israel 800’s BC

In 2 Kings 6, several truths are clear. I’ll share them in summary form here, but you can watch the full message for a more complete explanation (Grace that Guides).

God directed Elisha to interact with nations to advance His purposes

• God was protecting Israel for a purpose
• God was proving His power and character to the world
• God was preparing the world for Jesus Christ

US Elections 2020

As we consider our times and think particularly of the elections tomorrow, similar truths apply:

God directs Christians to interact with nations to advance His purposes

• God will protect us to fulfill His purpose
• God will prove His power and character to the world
• God will direct us to proclaim Jesus Christ

I have personal preferences, I have deeply held hopes about the outcome of the elections tomorrow. However, the government I ultimately desire is the one God will use best to further His kingdom and only God knows 100% which government that will be.

Throughout the world across most of history, governments have not been friendly to the church. So, do not assume that a pro-Christian government is best.

• God’s purposes are neither fulfilled nor threatened by human governments.
• We do our part to pray, vote, and persuade and then we must surrender to what God allows.
• God will always accomplish His purposes – He has given us free will to determine our own part within that.
• We should be neither lazily complacent nor obsessed due to anxiety.

God directs Christians to interact with nations to advance His purposes. This may take many spiritual and political forms. Whether by prayer or by a vote, we have a voice in the direction of our nation.

God will protect us to fulfill His purpose: Whoever wins the US election, God is still on the throne. Whoever holds earthly power and influence, nothing can hurt or hinder you without God’s permission. Keep the main thing the main thing and focus on issues we can bring back to the cross of Christ. If you cannot trace a line from your issue to and from the cross, then hold it loosely. We can hold many opinions but let nothing hinder your testimony for Christ or opportunities to witness.

God will prove His power and character to the world: Sometimes God will allow times of ease and prosperity for His people to demonstrate His power and advance the knowledge of His character. Sometimes God will allow times of trial and hardship to prove His power and to advance the knowledge of His character.

God will direct us to proclaim Jesus Christ: Whatever happens, we must always proclaim Christ! That is the purpose that never changes for the believer regardless of the government or state of society.