The contentious 2008 Election has finally come to a conclusion. Divisions in America are as pronounced as ever before. Not since Franklin D. Roosevelt of the Great Depression era has a president assumed the office with the nation in worse trouble. Will Barack Obama follow in the footsteps of the Democratic icon and push the country to the left? Are big government and liberal ideals poised for a comeback? The answer is almost certainly “yes”—and like a good old southern saying, “things will be a changing, folks.” “Live and let live” will be the drumbeat of the ruling left.
But chin up, orthodox Christians. We know how our story ends. Our joy is not dependent on happiness or happenings.
And don’t forget there are a few bright spots. The Democrats failed to obtain a filibuster-proof majority in the U. S. Senate while U. S. House Republicans gave up more control to the Democrats. Marriage that is limited to a man and woman carried the day big in Florida as well as California and Arizona.
But in the months ahead the waters for the good ship United States will be filled with rip currents and unexpected dangers just below the waterline. We will be tested in ways unimaginable just a few months ago. How we respond and to what degree we seek the Lord and his principles will determine the future of our beloved land.
The foremost issue on the voters mind was the economy. Barack Obama will forever be thankful for the financial meltdown of our country. It put him in the White House.
We have witnessed unbridled greed and irresponsibility in a runaway housing market that saw its bubble burst. The result in many neighborhoods is a downward spiral in home values. This trend is frightening to many Americans whose only nest egg for retirement is their home. For others with declining values in their IRAs and 401(k)s caused by the dramatic drop in the stock market will postpone or eliminate plans for retirement. It will be an opportunity for those facing uncertainty in their golden years to renew a sincere dependency on the Lord and not on their riches.
Abroad, the war in Iraq will be gearing down and much of our troop force will be withdrawn. But before we celebrate their return we’ll learn that many of those troops will be redeployed to the mountains of Afghanistan to fight the insurgent Taliban and the elusive Bin Laden. That may well be the only area of military emphasis in an Obama presidency as the military budget will more than likely be reduced as a result of the declining economy and a redistribution of defense revenue to accommodate domestic social programs.
Russia will test the United States’ resolve in many ways as she continues to muscle her former satellite states over oil dominance while strengthening their relationship with Iran. And speaking of Iran, Israel will now have a tough military decision to make now that their close relationship with the U.S. will probably experience a thaw. Iran may be close to developing a nuclear weapon. Does Israel go it alone to take out Iran’s nuclear plutonium site and if so, when? Some predict a strike could happen before the presidential inauguration in January.
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