“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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
A much-quoted scripture, very much needed right now. We have all heard this, time and time again. But the real problem is that in their minds, many people rush over the “If…” portion of the quotation, to get to the “heal their land” part.
The Real Message
BUT – it is the “If” part that carries the most important message of the scripture. Repentance must happen – and it must be real. And contrary to what may be being preached in the pulpits of apostasy at the present time, we all need to repent seriously, both for ourselves and for our nations.
The ‘Feel Good, God Loves You No Matter What’ messages of such ‘churches’ as Progressive Christianity, New Age, Prosperity Gospel – to name just the tip of the iceberg – is leading believers away from the teachings of Christ and into End Times apostasy. Jesus, though He preached a gospel of love, never said that following Him would be an easy path:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Needs – Not Desires
Though He spoke powerfully of the Father’s care, we should note that care is couched in simple terms: In His memorable message against worry, He certainly did not place the focus on endless material wealth. His message is about meeting needs, not desires. Look at these words:
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6: 28-34)
Jesus’ life’s focus was always on the Father. His ministry pointed His hearers to the same path:
“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’“ (Luke 9:23)
The Twisted Message
This is far from some present pulpit messages that paint God as some kind of Sugar Daddy, doling out sweets to children. Indeed, we are told in the writings of Paul that we must get off milk food and become mature.:
“I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” (1 Corinthians 3:2) It is worth noting that the Corinthian church in ancient Greece, surrounded by cosmopolitan values, heathen gods, and worldly desires, was the closest to what we find in the world and many churches today. That church was an unending trouble for Paul.
Old Testament History – Relevant Today
SO – we have a promise from the Father that dates back many thousands of years. On top of that, we have The Word, which faithfully and without compromise records the history of the people to whom that promise was initially given.
If we take the trouble to look into that history, we can see clearly the outworking of this promise in the lives of the people of Israel. The ups and downs, the victories, defeats and almost annihilations. Back and forth – defeat, exile, restoration, apostasy; defeat, exile, restoration, apostasy, over and over again. And always, the forgiveness of the Father – conditional on repentance.
Make no mistake, we are no better than they were. If we want our land healed, we need to look seriously at the history recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible: it is a dereliction of duty that many of today’s churches teach only from select passages of the New Testament. Their congregations could do with learning a thing or two about Sinners In The Hands of An Angry God.
Damascus Road News 