At last night’s closing celebration for the fall 2008 Bakersfield 40 Days for Life campaign I shared these thoughts about the eternal impact of our vote:

Jesus said that all authority in heaven and on earth comes from Him, and He also said that we will be accountable for how we have used what He has given us, and that those who make good use of what He has given will be rewarded.

Our vote is a form of authority. It may be a small amount of authority, but we are personally accountable to God to use that authority in a way which glorifies Jesus. In reality, our vote probably matters more to God than it does to the nation.

What would you think of a congressman who didn’t show up to vote when Congress is considering a new law which affects you? What if the congressman said “I knew that my side would lose anyway, so my vote wouldn’t matter”? Wouldn’t you think that such a congressman has failed to represent you? If you fail to cast your vote tomorrow, sitting back and telling yourself that your vote isn’t going to matter anyway, your failure is worse!

Jesus told a parable about men who had been entrusted with various sums of money (“talents”). Those who used what they were given to earn more were rewarded. Those who failed to use what they were given were punished. Jesus Himself related this to eternal reward or punishment, making an allusion to the punishment of hell (see Matthew 25:28-30).

Please be sure to vote, and to base your vote upon God’s interests, not your own selfish interests. What you do may impact you for all eternity.