A New Chapter in American History

On Tuesday, January 20th, a new chapter in American History began. Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. What is remarkable and historic about this inauguration is that President Obama is the first black president of the United States. That is amazing and truly a historic moment for our country.

Recently I watched Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech on youtube. It's not the first time I watched it, but this time it has taken on new meaning. As I watched Dr. King preach, I could not help but think that 45 years later, on January 20th, his dream was fulfilled. I am so thankful and proud that our nation has embraced its first African American President. Being Hispanic, my dream would be to have a Hispanic President with a Hispanic name like Lopez or Nieves. I do believe that I will see a Hispanic President in my lifetime.

What concerns me more than anything is how people are almost deifying President Obama as if he is some messiah or savior. People are placing so much hope and expectation on this one man that it concerns me. Although I am thrilled that we have an African American President, I am reminded that our hope is not in a man, whatever color or race he may be. Our hope can only be found in Christ. Let me remind everyone that President Obama's reign will be for four, maybe eight years. The Bible says that Christ will rule and reign forever and ever and his kindgom will never end.

When we place our hope in man we will always be disappointed. Man will always disappoint us in some way or another. When we place high expectations upon people, they rarely if ever will meet those expectations, and we will soon find ourselves more discouraged and disappointed than before. But when we place our hope, our confidence in Christ, we will never be disappointed, we will never be let down. Christ always exceeds our expecations. He will always do above and beyone what we expect.

In the Old Testament, God's people cried out for a king. The problem was that God wanted to be their king. In asking for a king, they rejected God's authority over their lives. God soon gave them the king they wanted, only to be disappointed. I have a feeling that many are going to be disappointed because they have placed their hope in a man, rather than in God.

I pray for President Obama. I pray for his success, however, my hope for revival, for renewal, for world peace, for freedom, is not in a man but in Christ. The hope of America is not found in a political leader, a Pastor or a President. The hope of America is found in Jesus Christ. He is our hope, our King, our Savior, our redeemer, our Lord. He is my President.