Where will change come from now?

The election is over. The inauguration is history. A new chapter began for America. On Jan. 10, 2017, then President Barack Obama delivered a farewell address in Chicago to some of his biggest fans and outspoken critics.
As we discussed in our January Bible study, new beginnings are amazing. But before we embark on any journey, it is good to reflect on what we’ve learned from past mistakes.
The former “POTUS” summed up what he thought were the greatest successes and hurdles he jumped in the past eight years.
In all of his self-glorifications, a single quote best illustrates how his policies have divided and weakened this country: “... laws alone won’t be enough. Hearts must change. [They] won’t change overnight. Social attitudes oftentimes take generations to change.”  
It sounds good. Just looking at the surface of his presidency, it evokes images of progress and a sense of pride for a job well done.
For a good number of Americans, however, it also explains the disappointment we experienced.. We expected one thing from our elected official and got another. 

Is that our fault? Was our separation from God’s Word to blame for our disillusionment?  Can we now see we looked for change in the wrong place? 
Some do but there are still those who waller in these “greatest accomplishments” as though it was Obama himself who reshaped the course of humanity. They continue to defend some of (the former) POTUS’s most controversial policies and his use of “executive” brute force. 
Change (even forced change) can be good but veering from God’s Word is definitely not -- especially when it strips our nation of the very principles it was founded upon and fostered its ability to proliferate and thrive. 
What a powerful and mighty nation was birthed from Plymouth Rock. How? Because, we were “One Nation under God” and “In God We Trust.” 
Things have changed. But not in a positive way. A Godly and righteous nation took a back seat to a misinterpretation of separation of church and state and allowed the devil to set up shop on every street corner and neighborhood and heart and bedroom in the land.
This is not to discredit Obama's presidency. His heart may have been sincere. In His mind and in the mind of his supporters he was doing what he believed was right. However, we are taught in Proverbs 16:25 KJV “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
For instance, Love is now defined as who we have sex with. Equality means everything must be evenly distributed not that we have a right to the same things. Evil is now called good and good evil. 
As a result, we are no longer interested in building others up or seeing others succeed. Life has become a competition and we treat others as a threat. This contradicts the very things Christ taught us and undermines the example He set. 
We would argue that Americans have actually been more concerned with “social attitudes“ than with honoring God and esteeming others.
It became popular to embrace “progress” and “acceptance” in an effort to please everyone. We endeavored to become all things to all people and include everyone. We don’t want anyone to be left out or make them feel bad. 
We abandoned truth and wisdom, becoming a people run by emotions and feelings; this led to division, bias and retaliation.
Our government was set up to foster happiness not to make people happy. Where once we lived in a land where jobs were created, now we live where a job will be found for you if you ask/beg/expect it (or vote democrat).
This declaration is a fact of life: once people become comfortable with knowing someone will always do it for us we will expect it, refuse to do for ourselves or to think for ourselves or to defend ourselves or even to pick ourselves up when we fall. 
Why should we? It would be ludicrous to do something we don't have to do. Do you run around after your kids and clean up after them? Do you give them whatever they want whenever they want? 
Why should the government run around “cleaning up” and “picking up” after us, especially at the expense of taxpayers? Yet that is exactly what has been done.
We need to stop enabling our neighbors. Quit doing things for people so they don't have to do for themselves. Equip others with knowledge. Give help, direction, advice and guidance but DON’T do it for them! 
Welfare should be reserved for those who actually need it; give people a hand up instead of a hand out. Stop siphoning resources from those who work hard for their money just to channel it to those who refuse or choose not to work. Quit forcing people who take their well-being seriously to foot the bill for those who don't. 
When we allow this to continue a “why bother?” attitude creeps in. Resentment takes hold along with feelings of being punished. Instead of finding satisfaction for your hard work and responsible decisions you loathe your neighbor for what he took from you. Such insistence to give undermines God’s love for a cheerful giver -- there are few to be found in America.
We should want our neighbors to succeed and to find joy when they do. Leave jealousy and competition out of the picture. Put the money and time toward those who truly need something they cannot do for themselves. And do it constructively, not recklessly. 
On our own we do not have all the answers. We need to return to God’s Word. Without direction and guidance from the Scriptures we will fail. Psalm 119:105 (NASB) teaches us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
Does that mean we should stop writing laws or throw them all out? Is there any hope for positive legislation? 
Yes. There is good news: some change CAN come from politics. How? 
First (and most importantly) we must learn to see Christ for who and what He truly is: our only hope. He is the only way to the Father. That is the crux of the matter. Nothing else we do for ourselves or others can ever go against that. 
Second, we have to set an example. For ourselves, our children and other nations that look to us. Act right. Show character. Put others first. Be the change you want to see. Stop telling people what they want to hear. Money, power and approval will need to take a back seat.  
Third, dialogue is vital. We can’t close the door on communication. Be honest. Ask questions and educate each other. Make the tough decisions and have the hard conversations.
Finally, we must elect officials who embody Christ and the Word. We can point fingers and say we’re not better off than we were and that President Trump is just as bad or worse than Obama. But one thing that Trump has not done or been given the chance to do is to prove himself as a leader or even a Godly man.
Regardless of our thoughts, beliefs, values, ideals, opinions etc, God's word will be the final authority. Anything done in addition or opposition to that will always fail. Jesus also said it beautifully in Matthew 7:24, 28-29 NIV. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." … When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Obama had his chance and appealed to the masses. Like it or not it’s Trump’s turn. We can either fight against him or work with him for gradual change. Trump can embrace, embody, encourage and exemplify change, but he can’t save you.
Remember,  Jesus saves. Real change comes in His redemptive power.