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)
God’s promises are wonderful things. We need to take them seriously. Some are unconditional, meaning God is going to bring them to pass no matter what. May are conditional, meaning that what God does about the promise depends on what I, or we, do. Today’s passage is a beautiful, wonderful, delightful, marvelous conditional promise made originally to Israel, but I believe God will fulfill it, if we meet the conditions.
I think we tend to gloss over the conditions for this one. Sometimes, we say it like this, “if my people, who are called by my name, will mumble, mumble pray, mumble, mumble, then I will hear from heaven, and I will mumble and heal their land.” Sometimes, the mumbling is moved elsewhere, “If mumble, will humble themselves, mumble, mumble, and turn from their wicked ways…”
Keeping in mind that this is an Old Testament promise, so its fulfillment may not look the same in a New Testament application, God is not obligated to forgive sin or heal lands until or unless we are fulfilling every condition.
Condition 1. We must humble ourselves. This isn’t everyone getting in a straight line and acting right. This is our saying to God, “OK, God, I’m going to let you be God, and I’m a creature, a created being. If You say X, then X it is, period.
Condition 2. We must pray. For how long must we pray? Until we have an answer, yes, no, later…. In the New Testament, we’re taught that we must pray in His name, according to His will. The “Lord’s Prayer” is an excellent example.
Condition 3. We must seek His face. Not His hand, His face. Not His favor, He, Himself. If our desire for Him is greater than our desire for forgiveness or a healed land, we might have this close to right.
Condition 4. We must turn from our wicked ways. It’s not about the non-Christians turning from their wicked ways. It’s not about the other political party turning from its wicked ways. For example, it’s not about not owning guns. It’s about not using them in wicked ways. And one of the most wicked ways guns can be used is in place of God as our source of security. I’m not saying to get rid of your guns. I am saying that when guns are more important than God, when the idea of being without a gun makes you anxious, or when you “can’t wait” for someone to come after you so you can use your guns, there’s a problem.
Let me share one that hit a little closer to home. If we see our doing what is good as a means to being accepted by God, or as a means of showing that we’re better than _______ is, or as a means of making ourselves feel good about ourselves…if your good deeds are for our benefit instead of theirs, we’re in trouble.
So here’s a challenge for us. We sometimes have the opportunity to give time, treasure, or talent for the benefit of some group of people. Before giving, spend some time doing some research. I’ve heard of people sending clothing to Africa, and destroying the East Africa textile industry. I’ve heard of people sending eggs to south Asia, and putting the poultry farmers out of business. I’ve donated clothing to victims of natural disasters, only to hear a couple years later that clothing donations were thrown in the trash because the clothing was easily replaced. I’d felt virtuous for sending the clothing, but it was money wasted.
No, I wasn’t wicked for sending clothing. I didn’t know any better. But it’s a lesson learned – instead of the knee-jerk reaction of sending something and patting myself on the back, I need to take some time to find out what will really benefit the people I’m trying to help.
I think we tend to gloss over the conditions for this one. Sometimes, we say it like this, “if my people, who are called by my name, will mumble, mumble pray, mumble, mumble, then I will hear from heaven, and I will mumble and heal their land.” Sometimes, the mumbling is moved elsewhere, “If mumble, will humble themselves, mumble, mumble, and turn from their wicked ways…”
Keeping in mind that this is an Old Testament promise, so its fulfillment may not look the same in a New Testament application, God is not obligated to forgive sin or heal lands until or unless we are fulfilling every condition.
Condition 1. We must humble ourselves. This isn’t everyone getting in a straight line and acting right. This is our saying to God, “OK, God, I’m going to let you be God, and I’m a creature, a created being. If You say X, then X it is, period.
Condition 2. We must pray. For how long must we pray? Until we have an answer, yes, no, later…. In the New Testament, we’re taught that we must pray in His name, according to His will. The “Lord’s Prayer” is an excellent example.
Condition 3. We must seek His face. Not His hand, His face. Not His favor, He, Himself. If our desire for Him is greater than our desire for forgiveness or a healed land, we might have this close to right.
Condition 4. We must turn from our wicked ways. It’s not about the non-Christians turning from their wicked ways. It’s not about the other political party turning from its wicked ways. For example, it’s not about not owning guns. It’s about not using them in wicked ways. And one of the most wicked ways guns can be used is in place of God as our source of security. I’m not saying to get rid of your guns. I am saying that when guns are more important than God, when the idea of being without a gun makes you anxious, or when you “can’t wait” for someone to come after you so you can use your guns, there’s a problem.
Let me share one that hit a little closer to home. If we see our doing what is good as a means to being accepted by God, or as a means of showing that we’re better than _______ is, or as a means of making ourselves feel good about ourselves…if your good deeds are for our benefit instead of theirs, we’re in trouble.
So here’s a challenge for us. We sometimes have the opportunity to give time, treasure, or talent for the benefit of some group of people. Before giving, spend some time doing some research. I’ve heard of people sending clothing to Africa, and destroying the East Africa textile industry. I’ve heard of people sending eggs to south Asia, and putting the poultry farmers out of business. I’ve donated clothing to victims of natural disasters, only to hear a couple years later that clothing donations were thrown in the trash because the clothing was easily replaced. I’d felt virtuous for sending the clothing, but it was money wasted.
No, I wasn’t wicked for sending clothing. I didn’t know any better. But it’s a lesson learned – instead of the knee-jerk reaction of sending something and patting myself on the back, I need to take some time to find out what will really benefit the people I’m trying to help.
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