A CALL TO ACTION

A personal commentary.........

In the past few days, I've noticed 2 Chronicles 7:14 tossed around on facebook as if prayer is the only way to heal our nation, but we have to look deeper.  Immediately preceding this verse is 2 Chronicles 7:13, which reads:  “When I shut up the heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people”.  The word pestilence stems from the Latin root pestilens < pestic, which translates to either pestilence or pestilent.  Webster’s defines pestilent with five definitions.  They are: 

1. Tending to cause death: Deadly

2. Likely to cause an epidemic

3. Contaminated

4. Morally, socially, or politically harmful

5. Causing disfavor or annoyance

While all five definitions can be applied to the state of our country today, definition number 4 really struck a chord in my studies today.

2 Chronicles 7:14 reads: “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (emphasis mine).

You see, God instructed us not only to pray.  He told us what he would do when we've turned from Him so that we will have signs to know when we’re on the wrong path.

Verse 14 is often quoted but apparently not fully understood.  This is a wonderful promise from God that we are His and that He loves us; but he has given us very specific instructions:

            We are to Humble ourselves.

            We are to Pray.

            We are to Turn from our Wicked ways.

Then he will hear, forgive, and heal.

Furthermore, in 2 Chronicles 19-20 (CEB), God says, “But if any of you ever turn away from and abandon the regulations and commands that I have given you, and go to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot you from My land that I gave you, and I will reject this temple that I made holy for my name.  I will make it a joke, insulted by everyone.”

There you have it, folks.  We, as a nation, have been so busy worshiping the gods of self, money, and “choice,” that we missed our cue from Heaven that it is time to TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS!  The United States of America is the laughing stock of the world today, just as Ezra wrote more than 2, 400 years ago.

In this country today, we regularly distort God’s word to make it fit into our lives, instead of turning our lives to fit God’s word.  We cannot pick and choose which parts of scripture apply to us, it’s an all or nothing deal.

We don’t hold ourselves, our children, our families or our friends accountable.  We call it forgiveness.  While we are to forgive each other for hurts (real or perceived) committed against us personally; only God, through the blood of Christ, can forgive sin.  This doesn't mean that we should hate people who refuse to repent of their sins; we are to love our enemies as we love ourselves, but we cannot continue to condone sin in our society.  We've all heard it before:  “Hate the sin; LOVE the sinner”.

We don’t teach our children that sex is sacred and should only be shared with their spouse.  Instead, we allow our government to teach them that sex is just a pleasurable pass-time and allow them (public schools and government clinics) to provide prophylactics to our children “to keep them safe”.  The argument is that kids are going to have sex whether we want them to or not – but they WON’T if every Christian in America takes a stand and teaches their children that sex is a sacred and holy gift from God and not to be taken lightly and used casually.  But that’s not all.  We must also SHOW them, by not partaking in pornography, or having extra-marital affairs, or living with our partners outside of the boundaries of marriage.  We have to lead by example.  “Do as I say and not as I do” does NOT work, and it makes us hypocrites (whom even Jesus disdained, by the way).

We don’t value life in America, whether it’s the life that was taken over a spilled beer in a bar, or the life of an unborn child – it is viewed with the same disregard from society.  I see Americans putting more value on the life of a stray dog, than I see for the life of a child.  Yes, EVEN the babies conceived in rape cases. 

God does not condone violent crimes, but Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.”  It goes on to say in verses 29-30, “For whom he foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called, these He also justified; and whom he justified, these He also glorified” (again, emphasis mine).  So you see, God does not make mistakes.  He takes the horrible circumstances in our lives and uses them for good.  That child is the good that comes from that which is bad.  That child is justified and glorified in God’s eyes.  It is NOT okay to murder a baby because it is inconvenient!!!  It is NOT ABOUT YOU!!  Americans were outraged over the Casey Anthony trial and its outcome, but there is NO DIFFERENCE between the fate of Caylee Anthony, in comparison to the fate of an aborted baby. 

How could God heal our land while we continue to place our hearts on our own selfish lives?  He can’t!!  He can’t because He is Holy and perfect and to do so would be a compromise of His character.  Wake up, Christians – Wake up, America!!

Fortunately for us, we serve a God of mercy and grace who promises to forgive our sin and heal our land – all we have to do is written right there in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

           

We are to Humble ourselves.

We are to Pray.

            We are to Turn from our Wicked ways.

It’s good news!  The bible is full of people who thoroughly messed up, yet, they repented and TURNED AWAY from their sin and God redeemed them.  In some cases even exalted them and made them great leaders.  We CAN be restored but it’s going to take a lot more than just prayers.  It takes action from the body of Christ.  We are His hands and feet.  We can walk around all day long acting righteous and holy in front of our peers; but if we’re making sinful choices in the dark where we think no one can see, then we have NOT turned from our wicked ways.  If we’re making choices condoning sin, then we have NOT turned from our wicked ways.  If we’re making choices based on how the outcome will affect us personally, instead of how it will affect the Kingdom of God, then we have NOT turned from our wicked ways.  If we consent to atrocities in our society by remaining silent, or by quietly overlooking them for selfish gain, then we have NOT turned from our wicked ways.

The choice is clear, Christians.  We are at a crossroads – will we repent or will we continue along the same well worn path of recent history?  Are we going to continue to pray publicly and sin privately?  Isaiah 50:11 in the Amplified bible warns, “Behold, all you [enemies of your own selves] who attempt to kindle your own fires [and work out your own plans of salvation], who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame! – walk by the light of your self-made fire and of the sparks that you have kindled [for yourself, if you will]!  But this shall you have from My hand:  you shall lie down in grief and torment.”

We have put our faith and our trust in the wrong god – collectively.  The president has no power over us, good or bad – neither would have any other man or woman elected to the office.  God is the one who is in control.  He doesn't make mistakes.  My personal opinion of either candidate in this recent election does not matter.  We could have elected Big Bird with the same results.  Until we repent of our sin and turn away from it, God’s hand of protection and mercy will remain removed from our land.  It’s in His word and could not be more clear.

Lastly, we are not doomed as individuals.  Psalm 37:3 says, “Trust in the Lord and do good.  Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.”  (I think its noteworthy here to point out that even in this tiny little verse, there is a call to action -- DO good, not BE good.) 

We, the people, can overcome the curse on our land; one Christian at a time, one household at a time!  Eventually, the rest will see the blessings that we live in and they will want what we have.  Read your bible, study God’s word, and be prepared to embrace the seekers.  Teach them your “secret”; then we, the United States of America, will see redemption and prosperity again.

~Trixie J. Ferguson