Can political change bring true happiness?

The prominent theme of the upcoming election has been “Change.” People are unhappy with the way the country and the world is going, and they want change: political change, financial change, social change, etc. It reminds us of the Scriptures in Romans 8:22, “For we know that every creature groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” The world is groaning for something better.

Many good people put their hope in an individual or a political party to bring about the change that will at last bring world peace, happiness, and prosperity. But no matter how noble their motives, no matter how hard they try, no matter what brilliant plans they come up with, the truth is that the most political intervention can accomplish is a temporary bandage on a dying patient.

The Christian’s Change

As Christians who are observing God’s plans and purposes working out in the world, it can be a challenge to our peace of mind and heart when we view the discontent, discord, and slander that accompanies an election. But the true Christian, who has consecrated his life to follow God’s will, is to remain separate from this rancor. The “change” that the world craves will not come from the ballot box, because it must first begin in us.

Apostle Paul tells us in what way the Christian changes. Romans 12:1, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Paul then goes on to give examples of how the Christian’s transformation process can practically work: “Be kindly affectioned one to another”; “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not; “Recompense to no man evil for evil”; “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men …”

Jesus said in Matthew 5:13, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour…it is thenceforth good for nothing.” And in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Salt adds flavor to food, and it also acts as a preservative - it delays degrading tendencies. Christians are the salt of the earth in the sense that they have a special purpose in the world. The influence of God in their life affects not only themselves, but it can also have an influence on those with whom they are closely connected.

Before the time comes for “change” to affect the whole world by Christ’s kingdom on earth, there is opportunity now for becoming members of Christ’s bride, the Church, who will help bless all the families of the earth. The Christian who faithfully follows in Christ’s footsteps now, when evil is permitted, will share in Christ’s spiritual resurrection and will be associated with him in his glorious reign. 2 Timothy 2:11,12, “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” This will mean a life of self-denial and sacrifice.

The true Christian knows that the “change” the world desires cannot come about by human intervention, and especially by politically active Christians, no matter how well-intentioned. That is why they are called “strangers and pilgrims” (1 Peter 2:11) in this present evil world. The Christian’s motivation for living a life consecrated to God is their desire to be privileged in the future to help the world reach real change, lasting change, the change that can only come about by Christ’s kingdom on earth.

True Change in the World

God’s promise is as true today as it was when he told Abraham, “And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). “For I am the LORD, I change not” (Mal. 3:6). The change God promises will bring “a new heavens and a new earth” (2 Peter 3:13). This means there will be a new spiritual ruling power [Christ and his church] and a new social arrangement, ruled in equity.

The true Christian should be supporting God’s plan of change, which will only come about when the present evil world is replaced by the righteous kingdom of God. We cannot know exactly how He will tear down the present earthly arrangements - what natural calamities, wars, political or financial upheavals may take place in the future to bring about the “new” social arrangement. Therefore, we “wait on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14) as we mentally rise above the tumultuous fray going on around us and have the peace of God within our hearts, praying, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

When Christ begins his glorious reign over mankind, we are told in 1 Corinthians 15:25,26 that he will “put all enemies under his feet. And the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” What are the enemies of mankind that hinder the establishment of good government, peace, and contentment? They are moral imperfection, mental imperfection, and physical imperfection. All of these are the result of sin and must be destroyed by Christ.

In the book of Revelation (20:1,2), we are assured that the first enemy that Christ will subdue will be Satan. Satan has blinded the minds of them that believe not (2 Cor. 4:4). Satan will be bound during Christ’s 1000-year reign to prevent him from deceiving the nations during their process of uplifting under the loving rule of Christ and the Church.

But when the 1,000 years are expired, Satan must be loosed for a little season (Rev. 20:3) in order to finally test the loyalty of the people to God and to righteousness. When all the enemies of God and righteousness have been destroyed, then the desire of all nations will have come.

When mankind will be raised to life from the grave condition, their development of character will be gradual. Today we see that evil is permitted by God. Malachi 3:15, “Now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” Business men find that there is dishonesty in all commercial concerns, that no business can succeed on lines of strict integrity. In these times it is much more difficult to do good than to do evil. The development of good character in the present time meets with opposition at every turn.

But it will be very different when Christ reigns over mankind. He will judge the people with righteousness, and evil will no longer be permitted. Righteousness will be encouraged, and sinfulness will be discouraged. The people will soon find that it will pay to do good; that the better they are, the more they will succeed. Mankind’s moral, mental, and physical imperfections will gradually disappear until finally they will attain to the perfection that was lost by Adam.

Those who do not appreciate Christ’s “change” at the end of his 1000-year reign will be destroyed in the second death (Rev. 21:18). All others will continue to live during the Ages to follow. That will be a time of real change - change of government, change of society, change of people’s hearts, change of people’s bodies.