If You Turn Away…

This morning as  I was reading through 2 Chronicles, a frequently quoted verse  immediately jumped out at me:

^“ 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14

What struck me even more was the verse before it:

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,” 2 Chronicle 7:13

and the ramifications if they failed to obey verse 14:

“But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you  and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.  And though this temple is now so imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’  People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.'”  2 Chronicles 7:19-22

Despite recent attempts to rewrite history, the fact remains that our nation is a nation  founded on a firm faith in God.   There is no denying the mighty hand of God in creating and sustaining our country from humble beginnings.  The blessing of our status and wealth as a nation came from Him.

 “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’  But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.”  Deuteronomy 8:17-18

But, the God we serve is unchanging (Malachi 3:6).  We, too, as children of the covenant (Galatians 3) will certainly be held accountable if we ignore His warnings.

I am convinced we are at a pivotal time as a  nation.  I believe He has already clearly warned us as in verse 13.  It is time to fervently heed the words of verse 14.  God is able to revive this nation if we will only obey and seek Him wholeheartedly.

As our leadership attempts to cut God out of the fabric of our nation, and at the same time weave in other gods and pagan beliefs, we teeter on the brink of becoming a “byword and object of ridicule.”  If we persist in the path we are being led, nations around us will one day be able to say, ” ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land…?’ People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.’ ” (2 Chronicles 7:22)

To read about America’s spiritual heritage, read Congressman Randy Forbes’  House Resolution 397.  It’s an excellent compilation of many of the efforts of our founding fathers to ensure we  were a nation founded on God.  To view it click here.