“If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear them from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.” ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14
When many people read the phrase, “turn from their wicked ways” I would imagine they don’t think it applies to them. How many of us really think that what we do is wicked? Wicked is reserved for witches right? Or really bad, evil people?
No.
Think about it in the context that we have been discussing: A nation who turns their back on God. A nation who has come to believe in and rely on themselves and their own power. A nation who has forgotten who created it. A people who have lost sight of of the face of God.
We live in a country where millions of babies have been aborted – killed – never given a chance to experience life, liberty or to pursue happiness. We live in a country where the main topic of conversation today is gay marriage, and how if you don’t support it you are somehow a hate-filled bigot. We live in a country that spends more money than it has, and as individuals many live in the same way. We live in a nation where care of the poor and needy is passed on to the government.
Still think we are not practicing wicked ways?
I direct most of this to Christians because I believe the burden falls on our shoulders. Why? Because for too long we have allowed the world to overrun us. We have not stood strong on the firm foundation of biblical principle because we didn’t want to be ridiculed or offend anyone. So by not drawing a line in the sand and saying “this far and no more” we are accomplices to what is happening.
We must speak out against the wrongs that are being committed in this nation. Not loudly and obnoxiously – but with gentle, assertive, and confident persistence. I hear of people who confess to be followers of Christ yet believe that gay marriage is fine; or they believe that abortion is the choice of a woman at least in certain cases. How does that work? How do you follow Christ yet make exceptions for things that clearly are contradictory to His word and His very nature?
It is time for us to get real and make sure our actions and words align with biblical truth. Remember, God’s truth is not relative and is not conformed to the world we live in. It doesn’t change with the times and isn’t modified to fit with what the world tells us is acceptable.
Other posts in the “If My People” series:
Photo credit: Adam Fagen via Flickr (CC-By-SA 2.0)