A Government That Will Never Shut Down
At the time of this writing in November 2026 we appear to be nearing the end of the longest federal shutdown in history. Flight schedules and air travel across the US have been in disarray. Over a million federal workers have missed paychecks. Some food aid recipients will have their benefits interrupted, and it is estimated that $11 billion in economic activity will be permanently lost. Not only that, but overall satisfaction in the government is woefully low. A Gallup poll from October 2025 found that only 15% of adults approved of the job Congress was doing.
When elected officials can’t work together to merely pass a budget, my first inclination is to throw my hands up in disgust and vent to whomever is willing to listen. It’s much easier to complain than to do something constructive.
In my cynicism, I have very little faith in the American government, or any human government for that matter.
It is my contention that the reason that politics and elections are increasingly heated, is because we’re looking to governments and elected officials to fulfill a role that they are not meant to fulfill. Congress and the President cannot solve all our problems—much less our most important one—being made right before a holy God.
Thus, as we get closer to the Christmas season, we are invited, instead, to lift our eyes even higher than the highest Office in all the land—beyond a human government with severe limitations. Look instead to the One who will bring about perfect governing in a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. The prophet Isaiah prophesied about this One, Jesus Christ, who was to be born and perfectly fulfill this role. Isaiah 9:6-7: “For to use a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”
The differences in governing could not be starker. The government will be on His shoulders, meaning He will uphold it and sustain it. His governing will be perfectly wise, wonderful, mighty, peaceful and forever. His government will be one of complete justice and righteousness, and it will never fail, nor ever shut down, because the zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Now that’s a government I can get behind! But this government doesn’t require you or I to “get behind” it. It will function and flourish with or without us. This government and this Kingdom have an open invitation to all who will desire to be a part of it—that if you would bend your knee to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, and receive Him as your Savior you can be a part of the most powerful, perfect governing the universe has ever known. And while this government will never shut down, it will shut off—meaning there will come a point, either at your death or at the return of King Jesus when you will no longer have the opportunity to turn to Him to be a part of His governing. In 2 Corinthians 6:2 we are reminded that… “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” God invites us to be a part of this Kingdom and to invite as many others as possible to join us… while we still can.
