It saddens me that this election has revealed how divided believers are in America.

                  

The crimson red that represents an avowed Republican seems to run deeper than the blood red sacrifice Christ made for that Republican. And, the donkey that Democrats brandish as their party symbol has far more significance than the donkey that transported Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

                  

What have we become as Christians? Are we tied so closely to our “candidate” that we now censure a fellow brother or sister with hurtful words of antagonism and hostility? Have we forgotten that these were and still are merely humans and the one we need to defend, endorse and stand up for - at all costs - is Christ?

                  

Let's get this straight. As you descend from heights of jubilation and euphoria or climb up from the pits of darkness and despair, there are certain things you must remember.

                  

Trust not in chariots nor in princes. The arm of flesh will fail you. Vain is the help of man.

                  

I know good, God-believing people who started out, fainted during the trip, fell short and did horrible, despicable things during the journey. They began with the best of intentions, full of hope, potential, and promise but fell victim to the vicissitudes of life.

                  

Rebekah and Jacob, conspired together, deceiving her blind husband, Isaac, to cheat her firstborn son, Esau, out of his birthright and blessing.

                  

David, a man selected and anointed by God--described as a man after the heart of God - did in faithful Uriah to steal his wife, Bathsheba.

                  

Peter, who promised to stand by his Master through thick and thin, denied knowing him at all when the test came.

                  

Judas, handpicked by Jesus, betrayed his Savior for 30 pieces of silver.

                  

Demas forsook Paul and Alexander the coppersmith did him much evil.

                  

The point is frail, flawed, fallible men can flip on you in an instant, even those of your own household and kind.

                  

For those shouting and protesting at the top of your voices—“not my President”--a word of caution from Gamaliel, the teacher of Paul the Apostle:

                  

"In the present case, I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”  - Acts 5:38-39

                  

Hear this. You must be flexible and pliable in the hands of God -- willing to accept anyway he shapes you or the future.

                  

No matter how tomorrow turns out, here is an axiom to live by;

                  

When you make a decision accept and determine:

                  

1. There is a 10 percent chance that you could be wrong.

                  

2. There is a 50 percent chance that a brother or sister will betray you.

                  

3. You have a 100 percent commitment to survive it all.

                  

                  

You must survive, even if in broken pieces. In the final analysis, none of this really matters if you do not make it THERE.

V. Knowles is a husband, father and prison minister with an interest in penning issues that serve to uplift mankind. He melds his love for Classic literature, The Bible and pop culture - as sordid as it may be - into highly relatable columns of truth, faith and justice. Hence the name: Just Thinking. If he's not buried in a book or penning his next column, you may find him pinned to his sectional watching a good old Country and Western flick.