Nena Arias | January 8, 2018
“If my people who are called by my name 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.” 2 Chronicles 7:14The Scripture verse above has been quoted over and over again increasingly in the past two decades as an urgent cry from those who know America is in deep spiritual trouble. They have endeavored to sound an alarm by quoting this verse in hopes that enough people will also perceive the urgency that something must be done to save America from imminent doom if she doesn’t change her course.
An urban legend comes to mind as it describes an encounter between a large naval ship and what at first appears to be another vessel, with which the ship is on a collision course. The naval vessel, generally described as a battleship or aircraft carrier, requests that the other ship change course. The other party responds that the naval vessel should change course, whereupon the captain of the naval vessel reiterates the demand, identifying himself and the ship he commands and sometimes making threats. This elicits a response worded as, “I’m a lighthouse. Your call.”
The moral of this story, as I wish to apply it, is that even the powerful must obey and respect the warning signals of what can destroy them.
America has been lauded as the most powerful nation in all of human history, and rightfully so, but as we all know now, it is on a collision course headed toward destruction unless it radically changes its course. Believers and non-believers in Christ perceive this, even though the solutions that each camp would apply are totally different. Non-believers say, fix the economy, make us all rich again and all will be well. True believers in Christ say, only a spiritual renewal will save America.
The lifeline given to America has been staring her in the face for decades every time this key verse is quoted in 2 Chronicles 7:14, saying, repent and change your course!
Our generation is witnessing the unraveling of America from sea to shining sea at a rapid speed. The spiritual and moral condition of the United States is quickly causing her breakdown. The real enemies of America are not outside her borders but they are right within her borders. All her problems all point to a deeper problem that is spiritually rooted.
The verse of 2 Chronicles 7:14, we are being told by pastors and some politicians that dare to quote it is that like never before, we must pray for our nation and her leaders. And I agree wholeheartedly because America’s real problem is spiritual and therefore must have a spiritual solution.
This key verse addresses God’s people because it says, “If my people.” As Christians, we are the key to saving our nation because the future of our culture is in the hands of Christians. Are we going to obey this call to help turn America back to God?
The first part of this verse says we must humble ourselves, fall on our knees and our faces before God and pray. There is much talk about prayer and the power of prayer, but are people truly praying. We must not only agree on the importance of prayer, but we must actually pray.
We are a people and nation in imminent danger because we are in direct rebellion against God. We mock him, ridicule his Word and his ways, and flaunt gross immorality.
If we repent of our sins – personal and corporate – and turn to God in humility and reverence—this is the first step in the right direction. But don’t stop there, which is as far as people go when they quote 2 Chronicles 7:14. The next step is key “AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS.” Repentance, even through bitter tears, is null and void if fruits of repentance and a full turn away from wicked ways do not follow it. There is so much sin that American society is accepting and approving, inside and outside of the churches, that nullifies any effort at repentance when there is no change. Even too many church pulpits in America are not calling sin out by its name and urging people to turn away from it, for fear of losing people who might feel too offended or called out. We must follow through with all of the indications from God if we want him to hear our prayers, forgive our sins and heal our land. We must meet the requirement of turning from our wicked ways. The only thing that can distance God from us and hold back his power is sin. God will not be mocked!
After we produce the fruits of repentance, then we must bring God’s truth to the forefront and defend it with all that is within us. Darkness must be pushed back with God’s light. We have been called to be SALT and LIGHT to this world and it is high time that we come through for God where we are.
“If my people who are called by my name 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.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)