“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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
For many months now, this has been the verse frequently repeated in churches, and in various Christian gatherings (including the ones held in Washington, DC) by hundreds of thousands of concerned believers.
We are definitely in a place where we ALL are aware of the great need ahead of us. Our country, our world, has been racked by pandemic, natural disasters, economic and social upheavals…
The LORD GOD gave this promise first to King Solomon, after completion of the Temple. God’s people, the Israelites, had already had numerous occasions to recognize their own sin, and times they had fallen away from the protective leading of the LORD, to follow their own agendas. God knew that there would be more so in the future. Those of us who now call His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, are also part of “God’s people”, “called by His name”. This promise is also for us.
But, as with some other of the promises in God’s Word, there are conditions.
•Being “called by His name”. We need to follow in the example of Jesus, who taught us to say, “Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9, 10) (Emphasis added). It is HIS will, His agenda we seek to know and to follow!
•Humble themselves… “God resists the proud, by gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
•Pray and seek His face… “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29: 12.13)
•Turn from their wicked ways… We usually know the obvious things/ways in which we have ‘fallen short’. But, the Psalmist cries out for even greater understanding. “How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.” (Psalms 19:12 NLT), and “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalms 139: 23-24 NLT)
THEN…what is God’s promise?
He will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
There is a famous quote, which is very appropriate for this time:
“We do not know what the future holds, but we know WHO holds the future!”
Let us follow the condition and promise God gave to King Solomon, and gives to us! Let us humbly pray, repent, and seek His face; asking for the healing He promises!