The 2008 Presidential Election is now history, as well as history-making.

Now what?

That the majority of the electorate chose an African American to serve as the 44th president of the United States speaks volumes as to how far America has come as a people.

True to form, this election was easily as partisan in nature as previous ones, and it again polarized much of the nation. Today, you could be rejoicing at the direction the country might take in the future, or you may be hanging your head in despondency. But really, what should be the response of a Christian to the events of November 4? I believe the Bible gives us some great advice at this point.

"This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jeremiah 29:4-7 NIV).

Jeremiah writes to a nation that has been taken captive to a land not their own. He tells them to go on living their lives. This is simple advice. But then, he goes on to say that they should prayerfully see the peace and prosperity of the culture where they find themselves. The reason being, if that society prospers, so will they. This is profound advice.

If your candidate won on the 4th, you likely feel you are "home in Jerusalem." If he didn't, you may consider yourself "exiled in Babylon." No matter. Your response to it all should be the same; to continue to simply live your lives, and seek the peace and prosperity of the culture you are a part of. If you do this prayerfully, not only will the culture around you be blessed, but so will you.

And you can't beat that.