God spoke clearly to the Israelites at the dedication of the temple by Solomon. He revealed that he could shut up the heavens, so that there was no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land or even send pestilence among his people. Doesn’t sound very pleasant or Godlike. If you look further into the motives of God, he always does what is necessary to discipline his people to turn their hearts to repentance and back to him, and down deep through his love, he really wants to bless the land in which his people dwell. II Chronicles 7.14 shows us how we may ensure his blessing.
“If…will we
my people…the body of Christ
who are called…are you
by my name…born again Christians
humble themselves…humility comes before honor
and pray…sharing our heart’s condition and desire
and seek my face…intimacy with the living God
and turn from their wicked ways…repentance is turning
then…now it’s God’s time to act
I will hear from heaven…so powerful and reassuring
and will forgive their sin…grace upon grace
and heal their land.”…that which only he can do!
And I dare say, our ‘land’, the US of A, needs healing as never before in my lifetime. Would you agree? We can have that, but he is revealing our part in the healing process, individually and collectively. If and then…will we fulfill our ‘if’? We can certainly trust God to ‘then’ do his part. So, what is holding the Body of Christ back? I suggest too many distractions, pleasures, sinfulness, disunity, pride…the list is endless.
I wrote a book a few years ago entitled, Revival of Repentance, based entirely on this verse. Our ‘land’ needs it more now than when I wrote it. The next several generations of our families will be greatly impacted by whether or not we fulfill the ‘if’. It’s such a small word, but such a difficult execution, because we have so many enemies that are trying to keep us from fulfilling it. The first place to start is our own heart.
Right now, we have the option to fulfill our part, or, just continue on as usual until God has to bring strong discipline to get his Church in America back where it belongs. God will not back down. His love is too strong, and his wrath equally as strong. Listen to the last two verses (21,22) in this chapter. If Israel didn’t and if we don’t…
“And at this house, which was exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore he has brought all this disaster on them.’”
Fellow believers, this is not kid’s play! It is serious and it’s time! Whatever happens at the general elections this year will not alter the call for us to fulfill our part set forth in ll Chronicles 7.14, believing and trusting that God will then do his part. The results boil down to, “If”.