After months of political handwringing, volatile debates, sound-bite attacks, and sensationalistic accusations, election day finally arrives. Americans pick the next leader of the free world.

Yet what happens next?

Each time a presidential candidate is elected into office, he usually brings a measure of self-assurance and bravado. But very soon the weight—the sheer magnitude—of the domestic and foreign problems that demand attention and immediate responses becomes crystal clear. Election-trail promises meet the crushing reality of the political system.

Generations of people have grappled with troubles and difficulties, which is its own testament to the fact that they cannot be solved overnight. Yet mankind continues to search for answers.

Examining the issues America faces today and those the next president will confront reveals their complexity. No matter who is chosen to sit in the Oval Office for the next four years, there are five major policy areas he or she will have to handle.

While other publications and news outlets address these and similar issues, The Real Truth does by examining them in the light of proven Bible principles. Along with each issue are biblically based solutions—God’s answers—to the problems America faces.

(1) Economic Woes

When Barack Obama, a senator from Illinois, was elected eight years ago, he inherited a global recession that financially crippled households and banks across the United States. It even severely affected lives far beyond America’s shores.

While the economy has significantly recovered since then, it has yet to return to the full strength it had under the Reagan-Bush-Clinton presidencies. Jobs today pay less and the number of openings are limited. Formerly thriving industries are still foundering, desperately gasping for air.

The future leader will likely rely on one of two options for fixing the economy: pumping money into society by creating jobs, as Franklin Roosevelt did with his public works program during the Great Depression, or providing tax incentives and legislation to help businesses grow, which would allow them to add more employees.

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Discontent: Low-wage workers and supporters protest for a $15 per hour minimum wage in New York City (Nov. 10, 2015).

Yet pouring money or providing tax breaks would further accelerate the national government’s already dangerously high debt levels. The debt is expected to swell to over 20 trillion dollars in 2017. And this financial burden will rest mostly on the shoulders of taxpayers.

Forbes explained: “With the debt per taxpayer as high as it is, if the government continues to raise taxes on middle income earners and above, it will become increasingly difficult for many of these individuals to preserve their standard of living. This will result in a reduction of wealth that spans the entire income spectrum, excluding perhaps the super-rich. The difficulty will begin in the middle class and eventually creep toward the higher income earners if the debt problem persists.”

Middle class Americans, who make up the majority of households, are already suffering from their own financial challenges—be it from credit cards, student loans, or otherwise. And the funds required to cover expenses far surpass the actual funds that come in monthly.

A Bloomberg report stated that one in seven U.S. households, including those with high-paying jobs, has a negative net worth. Of those with budgets “in the red,” nearly half had a college degree.

Yet the nation could come out of these problems if it wanted to. There are principles and habits, both of which involve God, that would help individuals—and ultimately the nation—take control of their finances.

The Real Truth presented these foundational principles in the article, “Drowning in Debt – Cause Behind the Credit Crisis.”

“The Bible, God’s Instruction Manual for mankind, contains many practical, helpful points about finances. God created laws to govern every aspect of His Creation, but most do not understand that these laws therefore govern every action in life. The law of cause and effect—where actions always bring reactions—applies to finances. There is a way—a direct path—to financial freedom.

“Jesus explained in John 10:10, ‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’

“But how can you receive this abundant life? It requires a decision.

“God laid out this same decision to ancient Israel: ‘I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live’ (Deut. 30:19).

“Realize that God will not force anyone to follow His ways. Yet obeying Him leads to blessings and happiness—disobedience leads to misery and unhappiness.

“Like the Israelites, many dismiss God’s warnings. They ignore the fact that by not following His commandments—including His financial laws—bad effects will come. Impulsive spending is the byproduct of a generation lacking in strength and character and is the cause behind why so many are now buried under a mountain of debt.

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Rally: Supporters of the Affordable Care Act gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2015).

“You do not have to become another statistic in the global financial meltdown. Choose to follow God’s fiscal laws and take the first steps to living an abundant, debt-free life!”

To learn more, read the booklets Taking Charge of Your Finances and End All Your Financial Worries. They offer instruction from God’s Word, as well as practical, common-sense advice you can use.

(2) Illegal Immigration

Which term should define those without citizenship in the country—“illegal immigrants” or “undocumented workers”? Fall on one side of the argument and you are in danger of being branded a racist or bigot. Fall on the other side and you are seen as unrealistic and a “bleeding heart.”

Over 11 million people are living in the United States illegally. They make up about 3 percent of the nation’s population.

Many illegals hold steady jobs because they are often more willing to work low-skill jobs for lower pay. Also, they help share the tax burden, providing an estimated $7 billion per year to Social Security (they pay into fake or expired accounts).

While this is a boon to the nation’s economy, it is a drain on other areas. Anyone found living illegally within the U.S. border can be imprisoned or deported. In any given day, 31,000 people are detained until immigration officials decide whether they should be deported. The cost: $90 per day per detainee.

In addition, illegal immigration increases the likelihood of tensions within communities, gang violence, and competition for jobs.

All eyes are closely watching to see how the next president will address the ongoing crisis. Will the federal laws America has established be enforced or will all immigrants be welcomed without question—legal or undocumented? Will the next president deport them? Allow a means for them to stay? Vet them to determine if they pose a risk to national security? Or build a wall to deter immigrants from illegally entering in the future?

The bigger question, however, is how God would handle the situation. Surprisingly, He does explain how He would deal with this current issue—once again in the pages of the Bible.

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

In mourning: Police officers attend an interfaith memorial service honoring five slain police officers at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Texas (July 12, 2016).

Consider the following excerpt from The Real Truth article “Why America Cannot Solve Its Illegal Immigration Crisis”: “God is not a ‘respecter of persons’ (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11). He rescued the Israelites from their meager existence and gave them His commandments, statutes and judgments so they would become a model nation…”

“Among these laws were statutes and precepts that governed the welfare and conduct of foreigners who were allowed to live among the Israelites (Ex. 12:37-38). God declares that He loves the ‘stranger’ (Deut. 10:17-18) and expected Israel to do the same: ‘And if a stranger [foreigner] sojourn with you in your land, you shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwells with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God’ (Lev. 19:33-34).

“‘Strangers’ (or foreigners) were protected from oppression: ‘You shall neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for you were strangers in the land of Egypt’ (Ex. 22:21). ‘Also you shall not oppress a stranger: for you know the heart of a stranger, seeing you were strangers in the land of Egypt’ (23:9).

“Foreigners were to receive the same standard of judgment and fairness that was rendered to the Israelites (Lev. 24:19-22, 19:34-35; Deut. 24:17-18, 27:19).

“But to live among the Israelites, immigrants had to keep the same commandments, statutes and judgments that God’s people were commanded to keep. This included observing God’s weekly Sabbath (Ex. 20:8-10, 23:12) and annual Holy Days (12:18-19; Lev. 16:29-31). They were required to abstain from pagan sexual practices described in Leviticus 18: ‘You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourns among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled)’ (vs. 26-27).”

“Yes, Israel’s Deliverer looked out for the immigrants among His people. However, He also set a difference between the ‘stranger’ and the Israelite. There were certain things that only His people were allowed to do. For instance, foreigners were forbidden to eat the Passover meal (Ex. 12:43-47)—that is, unless they became full citizens (vs. 48-49).”

This system of dealing with foreigners may seem antiquated—and only found in the pages of the Bible. Yet soon the entire Earth will benefit from it.

God plans to set up a world-ruling supergovernment in the coming years. In this government, which will be under the perfect rule of Jesus Christ, all areas of the world will have plenty of resources and space for their citizens. Nations will be at peace with each other. There will be no war, financial crises, political persecution, or any other circumstances that will pressure people to seek to live in another nation.

In this perfect system, the complications that result from immigration will be a thing of the past.

(3) Healthcare Reform

The average age of Americans is increasing. Meanwhile, health is declining—with the number of those who have everything from physical maladies to psychological issues rising fast. Without coverage, more and more people who need medicine or medical attention are simply not going to be able to afford it.

In response to this, America’s healthcare policy shifted drastically when the government ruled that citizens would be required to sign up for government-mandated health insurance. Those who opt out face tax penalties.

Some admire the government-run healthcare of Britain and Canada, where people can see a doctor without fear of racking up hefty medical bills.

But federally mandated healthcare—socialized medicine—is far from free. Someone pays for it—in fact, everyone pays for it in taxes. Under Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), “patients wait an average of about eight weeks for treatments that require admission to a hospital, four weeks for out-patient treatments and two weeks for diagnostic tests. While NHS patients have a choice of hospitals, they cannot always choose their specialist” (Time).

Many feel disgruntled that the U.S. government has more control in allocating their money toward things such as healthcare. They consider it a breach of freedom and a move toward socialism—a government-run “welfare state.”

There are many paths the new president could take toward fixing the issue. The most commonly stated solutions however involve spending the majority of resources on the healthcare system and not why people get sick in the first place. This is a form of treating the “effects” instead of focusing on the “causes” of the nation’s healthcare crisis.

Clearly, the healthcare system is broken and will remain that way as long as people believe poor health is something that cannot be avoided.

Yet as a Real Truth cover story “America the Medicated” stated, “God never intended it to be this way. He inspired the apostle John to write, ‘Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers’ (III John 1:2).”

The article continues: “One of the definitions of the Greek word translated ‘be in health’ is ‘to have sound health, that is, be well (in body),’ according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. This reveals that one of God’s greatest priorities is for man to have physical well-being.

“A deeper look throughout the Bible’s pages reveals some of the physical benefits God intended for us to have.”

These benefits—and how to access them—can be known. To learn more about them, order free copies of the booklet God’s Principles of Healthful Living and the article “You Can Live the Abundant Life!”

(4) Worsening Terrorism

In recent decades, Americans have experienced several major attacks from extremists. Despite drastic events in the past, however, such as the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993, the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, and events on September 11, 2001, U.S. citizens are now increasingly fearing the threat of attack in their own neighborhoods.

A spate of terror attacks over the past year, most from individuals claiming allegiance to the Islamic State terror group, reveals ordinary, “anonymous” citizens are the new primary targets. The battleground has changed. Instead of high-profile politicians in government buildings or large financial centers, terrorists target night clubs, disability centers, and even passers-by on streets. Think of the mass shootings in Orlando, Florida, and San Bernardino, California.

Citizens are increasingly wondering: Am I safe in this country? Polling data from the Chicago Council on Global Affairs reveals that more and more do not feel that they are.

In the survey, individuals were asked if their country feels safe. Approximately 42 percent said no, compared with 27 percent in 2014. More alarming, 89 percent of those polled believe that terrorism will be a fact of life in their futures.

No doubt, this will heavily weigh into the next president’s agenda, especially regarding foreign policy.

Should money and military manpower be poured into defeating the Islamic State terror group, which has been influencing indiscriminate attacks worldwide? Or can instability and extremism in the Middle East be solved by spreading and supporting democracy?

For a person living in accordance to God’s Word, terrorism is not something to be feared. The following excerpt from The Real Truth article “One Nation Under Terror – Three Realities America Can Learn from Life in Israel” reveals why.

“Many…optimistically believe they can minimize the terror problem through increased security. Much of American life still feels normal. Yet conditions such as terrorism are meant to be a screaming warning that something is wrong—and to jolt the U.S. from its slumber. Indeed, threats from extremist groups are only one way of helping America see its true condition.”

“For individuals who sense something is terribly wrong, God declares: ‘Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths’—detailed throughout the Bible—‘where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest…’ (Jer. 6:16).

“God assures those who follow His commands and trust in Him ‘shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day’ (Psa. 91:5).”

The book The Ten Commandments – “Nailed to the Cross” or Required for Salvation? will show you just how to live God’s Way so that you can be assured true safety.

(5) Crime Spike

Murders and violent crimes by domestic perpetrators are also exploding in the United States. By midyear, a violent crime survey by the Major Cities Chiefs Association found that the number of homicides, attempted murders, rapes, assaults and robberies was up in major cities from 2015 to 2016.

The Chicago Police Department reported a near-50 percent increase in the number of homicides over last year, while in San Jose the homicide rate doubled.

An Associated Press article stated: “Americans have grown accustomed to low crime rates since a peak in the 1990s. But law enforcement started seeing a spike last year that has continued unabated.”

“Some say the splintering of gangs has created deadly rivalries, others say the disbanding of specialized police units has helped embolden gangs.”

The latter reason calls to mind the awakening of racism discussions after a series of high-profile police killings of black men. Is increasing violence truly the result of poor race relations? Or are police shrinking back from duty in the face of increasing public scrutiny?

Whatever the case, there are differences in how different races view the prevalence of racism in the United States. A Pew Research Center poll reported the following statistics:

• 4 in 10 black Americans think the nation will never experience equality.
• 4 in 10 white Americans believe there is already equality.
• 4 in 10 whites say there is too much focus on race.
• 6 in 10 blacks say there is too little focus on race.
• 57 percent of Latinos claim race relations are bad.

In addition to poor race relations, access to guns is blamed for the increasing violence. To stem the tide of gun-related crimes and to prevent future scenarios in which disgruntled people unleash murderous wrath upon the unsuspecting, politicians and lawmakers have taken action. They have sought to impose laws meant to severely restrict who can legally purchase firearms. Yet this remains a highly controversial subject.

The next president will have to address these issues, else solutions to increasing violence and crimes will remain elusive.

The Bible’s method to stopping violence is summed up in one phrase: eliminate human nature. God’s Word defines our inner nature: “The heart [mind] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9).

Man’s natural state of mind is to think better of himself than he actually is. It takes minds led and influenced by the Holy Spirit to see themselves from God’s point of view. It is God’s Spirit that enables a person to faithfully keep His Law, both in letter (actions) and in spirit (attitude).

God’s Law is summarized in Romans 13: “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love works no ill to his neighbor…” (vs. 9-10).

Contrast this to the current spirit that permeates the world—that of selfishness, pettiness, jealousy, wanton lust, greed, competitiveness to the extreme, disrespect toward authority…the list is endless.

The Real Truth article “Gangs in America – A Deadly Game” discusses how God will eventually eradicate violence worldwide: “For now, the Creator is allowing mankind to try its own ways, so it can understand that without the proper knowledge of God’s Law, it is incapable of finding peace. Notice: ‘There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death’ (Prov. 14:12).

“The soon-coming supergovernment ruled by the Family of God will usher in peace and replace all ‘ways of death’—such as gang life.”

Today we could add violent crimes, racial tension, and disrespect toward authority.

Without addressing human nature, crime will not go away. God must be involved to eradicate this scourge!

What About You?

Policies shift from one president to the next. America will soon witness this again starting next February, when the 45th president gives an inaugural speech.

At that time, numerous idealistic plans for the next four years will be laid out. Some few directives will eventually trickle through the system and make their way through the democratic process: a bill will be drafted, pass through Congress, pass through the president, be established as a law, and then be executed.

Change through this process often takes years, while the problems that necessitated the law in the first place change.

Yet there are solutions in God’s Word—some of which can be applied today and others that will come to bear once Jesus Christ establishes His government on Earth. And unlike those implemented by the governments of man, the Bible’s solutions to problems do not shift.

Indeed, Scripture is a source of valid information for today’s problems! While most think of it as antiquated writings of desert-wanderers, or nice-sounding phrases for preachers to soothe their listeners, it actually contains clear answers to the current political confusion.

Whatever changes the next president chooses to bring to America, be sure you are equipped with real understanding from God’s Word.