Huckabee says faith in Christ is what matters

November 7, 2007

From Baptist Press:

Posted on Nov 5, 2007 | by Michael Foust

PLANO, Texas (BP)–Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee told a large audience at Prestonwood Baptist Church Nov. 4 he wasn’t there to deliver a political speech, but the congregation nevertheless responded with a reception that would make any politician envious.

Receiving two standing ovations, Huckabee avoided political issues and instead spoke about the promises of God found in the famous verse, Jeremiah 29:11. The Plano, Texas, church has approximately 25,000 members.

“There’s no guarantee that following Jesus means that we’re going to be wealthy,” Huckabee, a former Southern Baptist pastor, told the congregation. “Neither is it His goal to make us poor. His goal is to make us like Jesus, and that is prosperity — to put in us the character of Christ so that whatever happens in our lives, we’re able to reflect the personhood and the very life of the Savior who is in us.”

A graduate of nearby Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Huckabee added, to applause, “The only thing in this world that really makes sense is to follow Him. If you lose everything but you still have Jesus, you have what you need to finish at the finish line with success.”

In introducing Huckabee, Prestonwood pastor Jack Graham said the church doesn’t endorse candidates, although Graham made it clear he admires Huckabee’s beliefs.

“It’s very important that we vote our values, that we select folks and nominate folks who stand by principle and who live and proclaim and legislate according to the values we cherish,” he said to applause, according to The Dallas Morning-News.

Graham added, “Here’s a man who comes and says: ‘I’m not looking for your endorsement. I endorse what you believe. I endorse your values.’”

A former Arkansas governor, Huckabee drew a spiritual parallel to a time in the 1980s and 1990s, when his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks’ basketball team was a national powerhouse but wasn’t always televised live within the state. If he knew they had won, Huckabee would watch the replay of the game beginning at 10:30 that night. He said he never became nervous during the game, since he already knew the outcome.

“There are a lot of uncertainties in my life. There are a lot of uncertainties in your life…. But here’s one thing — if you’re in Jesus Christ, we know how it turns out at the final buzzer,” he said. “I’ve read the final chapter in the Book, and we do end up winning at the end…. [T]he game’s already been played at the cross. Jesus paid the price that has to be paid for us to have eternal life and for us to have victory.”

Read the complete story here.

Posted in Mike Huckabee, Vote 2008