As Election Day draws closer, one has to think about which side they are on. This isn’t a decision just for Election Day … we have been choosing which side to be on since birth. We had to choose whether we wanted to be an excellent student or a less than average student. We had to choose between going to church or sitting at home and watching church online. We had to decide between making money and working hard or making excuses and blaming others. We have to choose whether we want to be Democrat, Republican or Independent. Which side are you on?

While we decide on temporal sides like the ones I just mentioned, Joshua had to choose a side that had eternal impact. Joshua 24:15 says, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Now, Joshua had just led the people into the Promised Land. However, some of them decided to worship idol gods instead of serving the Lord faithfully. So, Joshua gave them an ultimatum: “Choose today whom you will serve.” Joshua leads them by choosing a side stating, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” What a side to be on! The Lord’s side is the best side to be on.

Earlier, in Joshua 5:13-15, Joshua encountered a man who drew a sword in front of him. Joshua stepped up and said to him, “Whose side are you on, ours or our enemy’s?” The man said, “Neither, I’m a commander of God’s army.” This response from the man serves as a reminder that choosing a human side is superficial. Declaring that you are with God is the most important. So, I want to let you know, #I’mWithGod. Are you with God? With God, all things become possible. With God, you can preach good things to the poor, you can heal the brokenhearted, you can proclaim liberty to the captives and you can comfort all those who mourn. When you are with God, you can love yourself and everyone else. It won’t matter what race, gender, class, or sexuality they are. Every day with God is sweeter than the day before. Even though storms may come, you don’t have to go through it alone. You can go through it with God. So, which side are you on?

I want to encourage each of you to vote on Tuesday. Don’t sit at home because you are frustrated with who is running. For some of us, God sent people before us to fight for the right to vote. So, exercise your gift and vote!

Matthew Shannon is pastor of Beulah AME Church in Farmville. His email address is pastormatthew.shannon@gmail.com.