I've seen or heard that statement more times than I care to think about since the election results were announced. And it concerns me greatly. You see, that is not all we can do. It is not all we should be doing. I am hoping that the results of November 6th will sound as a wake up call to Christians... not denominations, churches, etc. Christians. Individuals. Christians who believe Jesus is the only answer. Christians who believe that Jesus did not come here to "solve our problems", political or otherwise, but that He came here to "seek and to save that which was lost" so that we can live eternally with God.
We've been told what to do in order to "heal our land." Yes, prayer is part of it. But there is so much more involved. God cannot hear us until we follow HIS plan. And that is something that we, Christian, are failing to do... over and over again.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall HUMBLE themselves, and PRAY, and SEEK my face, and TURN from their wicked ways; THEN will I HEAR from heaven, and will FORGIVE their sin, and will HEAL their land. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14Humble ourselves. Not an easy thing. Humble defined is not proud or haughty, not arrogant or assertive; reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission. This certainly doesn't describe the world. Unfortunately, it does not describe the church. It doesn't describe many Christians either. This is evidenced by the actions of individuals in the church. It is evidenced by behaviors within the family. It is evidenced by Christian workers in the work place. We see authority usurped at every turn. We are not willing to be submissive. The word in this passage is a verb, an action verb. We must bring ourselves into subjection to the authorities that God has placed over us: the Bible as the foundation of all we do, husbands and fathers in the home (Eph. 5:24. 25; 6:1), pastors in the church (Heb. 13:17), bosses in the work place (Col. 3:22), and, yes, even government leaders (Romans 13).
Pray. Yes, we can pray. But, we must HUMBLE ourselves AND PRAY. They are not separate here. They go together. He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. (Proverbs 28:9) The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. (Proverbs 15:29)
Seek. Again, another action verb. The definition of "seek" is to resort to, go to; to go in search of, look for, to try to discover; to ask for, request; to try to acquire or gain. Are we really seeking after God? How much time in a day do we spend in prayer and Bible study? Contrast that with other activities. Our nation isn't divided. We are divided within our own spirit. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:8)
My face. Strong's Concordance also provides the words countenance, presence, and person for the word "face". Whose face are we to seek? The LORD's. The caps aren't an effort at emphasis. In the King James Bible when the word "LORD" is capitalized it stands for "Jehovah," the most special name of God. It is the LORD Who is speaking in 2 Chronicles 7:14. It is His face, His presence, His person who we are to seek.
Turn. The GPS has spoiled us. Now, if we are going the wrong way, that annoying voice simply says, "Recalculating," providing us with an alternate route. In the days before the GPS, we stopped and turned around. That is what we need to do today. We must stop "recalculating" trying to find an alternate path to what the LORD would have us do. Enter
ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:13-15) Turning also means to repent. Repenting isn't just saying, "I'm sorry." It is the act of not repeating the offense.
From our wicked ways. We think of wickedness as something that is morally very bad. Murder is a "big" one. "I haven't committed murder." Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15) Adultery is another one where we may think we are okay. But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matthew 5:28) Paul tells the church of Colosse that they need to continue moving away from fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (Colossians 3:5) but that now they also need to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. (Colossians 3:8-9) God doesn't classify sins as "big" and "little". Sin is sin. Until we turn from what God considers wicked He will not hear us.
Just a little background on 2 Chronicles 7:14. Solomon had completed the temple, God's house, that his father, David, had desired to build. Solomon, the priests and Levites, and all the children of Israel spent days dedicating the temple. (2 Chronicles 5-7) In 2 Chronicles 6:14, Solomon begins praying, asking the LORD to come dwell in the house built for Him. (Today we would call this the church.) Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. (2 Chronicles 7:1) After the week of feasting ends, Solomon sends everyone home, happy and joyful that the work was done. The LORD comes to Solomon and tells him how to heal the land if judgment comes. He also warns Solomon, (2 Chronicles 7:19-22)
But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
We need to get our houses in order.
First, our own lives. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Second, our homes. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (Ephesians 5:24-25) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)
Finally, our churches. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:7, 17)
All we can do is pray? No, there is more, so much more.
