(2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV) 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.
As usual this week I was listening to Alistair Begg on my I-pod while locked into morning traffic. He referred to this verse. As always he gets me thinking.
We are approaching a time of election. We are in the middle of a political campaign. We are involved at different levels. We care at different levels. We should be thankful for the chance to be involved and discuss issues openly. But do not forget who we are and what will really bring change.
Look at God’s formula for change: Self humbling, prayer, seeking, repentance. This is not a twelve step program or a one step miracle. Too often we want to boil an egg without heat, water or a pan. We think having an egg is enough. God makes promises but usually they are conditional. Our hope is not in voting or political action. If that were the case then the Christians in the days of Rome would have been without hope. Christian martyrs around the world would have died in despair. But they did have hope. And they had humility, prayer seeking, and repentance.
Notice the formula for response: Hearing, forgiving, healing. Don’t expect God to touch us or our situation with a magic wand. Sometimes healing takes time. It always takes the hand of God.
So? Vote. Once. Pray. Without ceasing. Seek His face constantly. Serve others and when you become aware of your failures and sin, repent. God continually pulled Israel’s chestnuts out of the fire. The Wesley revival kept England from bloody revolution. The Great Awakening lead to a free republic. The Second Great Awakening laid the ground work to end slavery. How many other times has God intervened in history when His people were faithful? I don’t know, but I intend to ask Jesus when I respond to the trumpet.
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